Covid Memorial Garden opens in Plaistow Park

Over 100 residents attended the opening of Newham Covid Memorial Garden in Plaistow Park on Monday, 3 April.

The memorial garden in Plaistow Park honours residents who lost their lives during the pandemic and is in recognition of the front-line services and volunteers supporting Newham’s most vulnerable residents.

The memorial ceremony opened with speeches from the Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, followed by notable speeches by Councillor James Asser, Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainable Transport and Councillor Neil Wilson, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care.

Newham Super Choir performed a heartwarming collection of songs, including 'London Pride' as the sun shone on the new garden. The park’s opening was marked with the cutting of a purple ribbon by the Mayor of Newham and the Deputy Lieutenant planting the garden’s first tree.

Attendees were invited to walk through the garden, accompanied by a peaceful cello performance by a young musician, Tyrone Musngi, from Newham Music.

The project was designed with residents from Plaistow Community Neighbourhood and managed and delivered by the parks team.

The park features different planting areas, bespoke artwork and three hand-crafted totem poles, and was designed by Jon Sheaff & Associates and local artist Matt Ponting alongside Plaistow Community Neighbourhood.

A joint statement from Councillor Neil Wilson, Cabinet member for Health and Adult Social Care, and Councillor James Asser, Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainable Transport, said:

"We hope that the new Memorial Garden in Plaistow Park will be a place where those who lost loved ones during the pandemic will find solace.

“This memorial is a lasting tribute where all generations are invited to visit, sit, reflect and remember.”

Newham is one of the London boroughs most heavily impacted by Covid-19, and tragically, 1,013 residents lost their lives to Covid-19.

Find out more about Newham Covid Memorial Garden.