Shinfield families invited to plant a commemorative tree

Parents, grandparents and carers in Shinfield are being invited to mark the birth or adoption of a child by planting a tree as part of a new University of Reading scheme.

The Tree for Life Garden, developed in partnership with local charity Freely Fruity, will see 36 trees planted on The Ridge, adjacent to Alder Grove Primary School.

The scheme is open to families whose child or grandchild is under 11, or due to be born in 2026, and living in Shinfield. The closing date to express interest is Sunday 27 September 2026, with successful applicants contacted afterwards to confirm their tree has been reserved. Planting will begin in October 2026. 

Families taking part will be invited to help plant their tree and take part in ongoing activity in the garden. They can also choose to have their tree and their child's name added to a public information board next to the garden, and can request a certificate marking the planting.

A £5 donation is suggested for each tree, which will go directly to Freely Fruity, to support its local work. The University is funding the scheme in full and will not receive any of the donations.

There are a limited number of 36 trees available, which will be randomly allocated. If applications are oversubscribed, the University will explore expanding the scheme in other areas of Shinfield.

The idea for the scheme came from a local resident who wanted to commemorate the birth of his son.

Molli Cleaver, Community Engagement Manager at the University of Reading, said: "The Tree for Life Garden lets us celebrate the youngest members of our Shinfield community while giving them a lasting connection to the local environment. We hope families will take real ownership of their tree and the wider garden as their child grows."

Families wishing to take part can express their interest using the online form, before the closing date of Sunday 27 September 2026.

For more information, contact community@reading.ac.uk.