Marriott's Way trees in memory of 2 Norwich women replanted

Two rowan trees were planted close to the Barker Street entrance to the thoroughfare in 2021 in memory of Margherita Colombo and Janice Middleton, two long-term Friends of Train Wood and Marriott's Way members who died in 2020.

The trees were funded by the county council and planted by the Friends group after they had been sourced by Matthew Davies of the Norwich Fringe Project.

One of the new rowan trees planted in memory of Janice Middleton and Margherita Colombo, who both died in 2020 - Picture: Maddy Goodall (Image: Maddy Goodall)

The replacement saplings, also rowans, were planted on Friday, March 3 near the oak tree in memory of Adrian Holmes, former treasurer and founding member of the Friends, by Matt with Patrick Goodall.

The group's chairwoman Maddy Goodall said: "It was nice to do this all again for Jan and Margherita.

Matthew Davies (Norwich Fringe Project) and Rachel Watson at Adrian Holmes' memorial tree planting in 2022 - Picture: Maddy Goodall (Image: Maddy Goodall)

The oak tree planted in memory of Adrian Holmes' with the two new rowans behind (Image: Maddy Goodall)

"It would have been a real shame to leave their lives un-commemorated and to give up on trying.

"It feels brutal that the trees were vandalised. It was mindless.

ne of the trees after it had been vandalised - Picture: Newsquest (Image: Archant)

The two trees in memory of Margherita Colombo and Janice Middleton were vandalised in Marriotts Way - Picture: Newsquest (Image: Archant)

"But what's great about the Marriott's Way is how incredibly well-used it is.

"It's accessible all the time and open to everyone, so you take the risk of this happening.

"Jan and Margherita were so much a part of the community and trying to make the spaces better and supportive of nature.

Margherita Colombo was a regular fixture on litter picks along Marriott's Way - Picture: Stuart McPherson 2014 (Image: Copyright: Stuart McPherson 2014)

A plaque along the Marriotts Way in memory of Janice Middleton and Margherita Colombo - Picture: Maddy Goodall (Image: Maddy Goodall)

"To do things in that memory hopefully will perpetuate their legacy."

As well as the planting of the trees, new bat and bird boxes were installed.

"It's really exciting because there are some rare species that use the Marriott's Way," Maddy added.

Maddy Goodall, chairwoman of the Friends of Train Wood and Marriotts Way - Picture: Maddy Goodall) (Image: Maddy Goodall)

"'Connectivity' is a big word at the moment and connecting up these spaces for nature is very much what the Marriott's Way is about.

"It's a path for people and it's exciting to support non-human species, too."

A bird box installed along the Marriotts Way, Norwich - Picture: Maddy Goodall (Image: Maddy Goodall)