Cambridgeshire-based rewilding charity Creating Nature’s Corridors has created a 35-acre wood - Rory’s Wood - at Grafham Water featuring over 18,000 native trees. As part of this major planting project, a 3.5-acre portion of the site has been dedicated to establishing a memorial wood where loved ones can be celebrated via the sponsorship of a tree or a beautiful, artisan-crafted wooden bench.
Local rewilding charity creates dedicated memorial wood
May 2026: This year, rather than the traditional funky socks or tipple of choice, why not celebrate Father’s Day with a more lasting gift designed to honour the important father figure(s) in your family?
Cambridgeshire-based rewilding charity Creating Nature’s Corridors has created a 35-acre wood[1] - Rory’s Wood - at Grafham Water featuring over 18,000 native trees. As part of this major planting project, a 3.5-acre portion of the site has been dedicated to establishing a memorial wood where loved ones can be celebrated via the sponsorship of a tree or a beautiful, artisan-crafted wooden bench. The gifting of a sponsored tree includes a personalised plaque on the newly built memory wall, while sponsored benches incorporate a similar small plaque providing a comfortable, peaceful spot for visitors to sit and marvel in the beauty of the great outdoors.
As well as crafting a place to remember dads, both present and past, the wood offers an action-packed family day out. Children can visit the memorial wood and take part in the educational nature trail, check in on the latest activity in the bug hotels and also keep their eyes peeled for the four magical fairy doors that have recently been installed. And of course, there is plenty of space for the whole family (with both two legs and four!) to walk, to enjoy the benefits of gentle exercise and generally reconnect with nature.
Representing England’s third largest reservoir, Rory’s Wood is operated by Anglian Water. Forming part of Grafham Water’s 60th anniversary celebrations, the woodland reflects the many ways the reservoir has brought people together since opening in 1966 – from providing water to the region, to supporting volunteering, wellbeing and remembrance, while creating new habitats for wildlife and a lasting legacy for future generations.
Creating Nature’s Corridors founder Vhari Russell says, "Gifting a tree or a memorial bench is one of the most meaningful things you can do in someone's name. It's a living, breathing tribute that grows more beautiful with every passing year, and unlike so many gifts, it gives back long after it's been given. But it's about so much more than remembrance. Every tree we plant is a quiet act of resistance against the relentless loss of our natural landscape. These trees create havens for wildlife, corridors for biodiversity, and spaces where people can breathe, grieve, celebrate and simply be. That feels like a legacy worth leaving."
Anyone interested in sponsoring a commemorative bench or tree should visit the Creating Nature’s Corridors website for further details. Tree sponsorship is priced at £75 / bench sponsorship is £500.
Full sponsorship details are available at www.creatingnaturescorridors.co.uk/donate.
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“Having lost my brother, I wanted to create a location in which others could remember special people for them. By creating the memorial part of the wood, it will enable them to remember those special to them. Grief is a long journey, and to have a place that is special to you that you can sit and enjoy nature and its healing powers can be a great source of comfort”.
[1] That’s the equivalent of 19 football pitches!
