Enfield Living Memorial comprises a heart-shaped ring of trees surrounding a metal artwork at its centre

A Covid-19 memorial funded by local community groups has been officially inaugurated at an Enfield park.

Enfield Living Memorial is dedicated to all those in the borough who were lost during the Covid-19 pandemic. The memorial began to take shape last year with the planting of 30 trees in Town Park, in the shape of a heart. The final piece of the memorial, a metal artwork depicting a phoenix rising, was unveiled last month.

Around two hundred people attended an informal open event, with many choosing to leave a small personal message of remembrance, which were written on cards and tied to the trees. One such note said “love you mum, and miss you”, reflecting the many expressions of loss that were shared throughout the afternoon.

Children’s Voices of Enfield choir also performed at the event, and a brief speech was given by Justine Stracy, president of the local Soroptimist group which organised the memorial project and led fundraising efforts.

Justine said: “Over two-thirds of the project’s cost were met by local community groups, local businesses, and individual members of the public. Significant support also came from unselfish acts of kindness, with in-kind time and material resources equating to over £10,000 in value.

“The remaining support came from the Lottery Community Fund. What we have achieved together is something of meaning, and value, and beauty, for everyone in the community.”

Artist Joe Robinson, who was responsible for the concept and design of the memorial, said: “The feedback we have received, about the memorial and the sculpture, has been tremendous. Hearing what people have said, and some have written, makes me so proud to have helped with what has fundamentally been a borough wide community project.”

One visitor to the site thanked the organisers and said: “I lost my 59-year-old father to Covid in 2021. I can’t tell you how much it means to me to have a memorial such as this in my own town. My mother who is wheelchair dependent has never been able to access a memorial for my father but now she finally can as it’s nearby and accessible.

“Thank you all for your efforts and the beautiful thought and design.”

For more information about Enfield Living Memorial:
Visit enfieldlivingmemnorial.org

No news is bad news 

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts. 

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less. 

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation. 

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit 

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.  

More information on supporting us monthly or yearly 

More Information about donations