If you go down to the woods…on National Poetry Day!

We are very proud of our poetry trail in Springfield Park, the calming green space in which Alder Hey Children’s Hospital is nestled.

As you stroll through our beautiful park you can take a moment to read some of the competition-winning poems. Here is a little bit of background to how these wonderful words were born...

Last year Alder Hey was privileged to be chosen as one of ten sites across the UK for a ‘Tree Charter Marker’ sculpture. These sculptures serve as a national monument to mark the launch of the Woodland Trust’s National Tree Charter during National Tree Week in November. The Charter is a new guide for UK society to build a future where trees and people stand stronger together.

Each sculpture represents one of the principles underpinning the new charter. The 15ft sculpture, made of UK-sourced oak from the Crown Estate bears specially commissioned words by poet Harriet Fraser. The images were carved by master craftsman Simon Clements and highlight the work Alder Hey does to promote health and wellbeing through connection with the natural environment.

To celebrate, Alder Hey launched a poetry competition inviting members of the public to submit their own poems exploring the theme of trees and woods. Winning poems were printed and are now displayed permanently throughout Springfield Park.

“As Europe’s only hospital in a park, the unique design of Alder Hey in the Park allows the best possible environment and experience for patients, their families and the wider community to encourage long term physical and mental health and wellbeing. This amazing partnership with the Woodland Trust allows us to celebrate our beautiful surroundings and highlight the value of the natural environment.”

Alder Hey partnered up with the University of Liverpool to inspire people to think poetically about trees and the judging panel of the poetry competition included published poet and writer Harriet Fraser and Deryn Rees-Jones, a Liverpool-born poet, and Professor of Poetry at the University of Liverpool.

Thank you to everyone involved in this project and remembering, this National Poetry Day, the long term impact it has had.

Will you do something remarkable for Alder Hey?

We are fundraising to make Alder Hey in the Park a truly world-leading hospital for children and families across the UK. By donating just £2 a month, you'll be doing something remarkable to help us fund life saving medical equipment, research and facilities.