More than 20 people from the community around Giantswood Lane met up recently for a tree planting ceremony to pay tribute to Dennis Moreton, a man who gave so much to his community that he gained the title “Mr Giantswood Lane”.
Former chair of Hulme Walfield and Somerford Booths Parish Council Coun Vic Brown teamed up with Patti Pinto and Trees for Congleton to arrange a planting of five native species trees surrounding a bench, to commemorate the life and contribution of Mr Moreton.
Those planting trees included guest of honour Mr Moreton’s widow Mary, daughter Jackie Brockis and grandson, Jamie, together with Giantswood resident, Eric Hough and Coun John Spence. For Jamie Moreton, there was also a welcome reunion with Mrs Pinto, whom he had last met when a boy at school on one of her many planting days.
In a brief speech during the ceremony, Mrs Brockis talked about how her dad sought in his way to promote conversation and connection between people. Whether chatting to a passing neighbour at the garden gate or walking along Giantswood Lane, he’d always offer a smile and spend time with people, sharing thoughts on all sorts of topics. The hope is that his memorial bench, surrounded by trees, will encourage the spirit of connection and conversation between people.
Coun Brown explained how the parish council was working hard to reach out and engage not only with long established residents but also the 2,000 new residents who will be moving into the parish over the next few years.
He said that part of the parish council’s vision was to encourage the planting of more trees and hedgerows, replacing trees that have been lost to new development and those that have reached end of life. In his words. “Trees, in some ways like Dennis, give so much back to the community and environment and we must continue to promote the planting of more.”
Coun Brown then thanked Mrs Pinto and former mayor Margaret Gartside for their help, and noted that Trees for Congleton had almost reached its target of 30,000 new trees within the town.
At the end of the tree planting ceremony, the group enjoyed some very tasty homemade mince pies and cakes and raised a final glass to Mr Moreton.
