Mary Ann Evans Hospice receives tree-mendous donation

A leading Midlands law firm that is marking its 175th anniversary has teamed up with Mary Ann Evans hospice as part of its drive to plant 175 trees across the region to help the environment and mark the special milestone.

Mary Ann Evans Hospice, on Eliot Way, has received a donation of wild and bird cherry trees from Leamington-based law firm Wright Hassall to mark the celebrations.

The trees were jointly supplied to Wright Hassall from Smith's Garden Centre in Baginton, and Coventry Peace Orchard - which was founded by D-Day veteran Dennis Davison.

Elizabeth Hancock, CEO at Mary Ann Evans Hospice, said: "A huge thank you to our friends over at Wright Hassall.

"The donated bird cherry tree has been planted by our day room to encourage more birds for the patients to see, and the wild cherry tree is displayed in our garden to add a little colour!"

The tree planting is one of many legacy-driven initiatives that Wright Hassall has launched via a dedicated website to mark its 175th birthday. Other initiatives include recognising 175 acts of kindness, and challenging people to fundraise for charity by walking 175 miles over the course of the year.

Jeanette Whyman, from Wright Hassall, added: "As a community-focused organisation we are keen to ensure that our 175 milestone can leave a positive lasting legacy, and planting trees to support the environment at Mary Ann Evans Hospice for existing and future generations is a great way of doing that.

"We have been inundated with requests from other organisations wishing to take part in our tree planting campaign. More than 200 trees have been planted so far, and we are hoping to bump that figure up even further by the end of the year."