The Lily Tree

Beningbrough volunteer gardener Bob Mansfield recounts the story of a very special tree.

The South Walk is a peaceful and little visited part of the Beningbrough garden, which meanders through a mixture of trees and shrubs, overlooking the parkland meadows.  One tree, however, is rather special, although unremarkable at first glance.

The tree is a Handkerchief Tree, davidia involucrata.

One thing that makes it special is that it's a commemorative tree.

Although Beningbrough does have a number of these, they are mostly memorials to people who have passed away. Not this one.

This Handkerchief Tree is different. It was planted to celebrate a birth. When you turn over the label you find out that this is Lily's tree.

So who is Lily?  Lily is the granddaughter of my friends, Mark and Joanna Caldicott. She was born to Elle and Ben in June 2008 and her grandparents wanted to mark the event with something special and long-lasting – so what better than a tree?

I checked with Gardens and Parks Manager, Des Cotton, who readily agreed to planting a tree, particularly one so unusual as a Handkerchief Tree.  So, in June 2009, gardener Steve, volunteer Bob and father Ben, skilfully aided by one year old Lily and mum, Elle, planted the two year sapling.

Ben, Elle and Lily live some way away so are not able to visit Beningbrough very often to check on the progress of Lily’s tree, but I keep an eye on it weekly, and grandparents Mark and Joanna often visit. In fact the next time the family were able to see the tree was 2 years later, when Lily was three – and here they are with it, moved from its original position as it was suffering from being too exposed.








During the visit, I took a photo of Lily which now graces the family living room and is called ‘Lily in the field’.

And now we come fully up to date. Lily is six, and this month there was another picnic, with another opportunity to see the tree

The family plans to keep visiting annually, and are all looking forward to seeing the tree in spring, in a few years time, when the handkerchief-like bracts will appear. Look out for Lily's tree when you next visit!