Longford Park Tree Memorial for Naseeb

Planting a tree in memory of Naseeb was an idea that some of Naseeb’s friends wanted to do a while back.  They got in touch and its taken some time to organise, but suddenly its now going to happen NEXT WEEK!  The planting will take place from 12:00 noon on Thursday 13th April through lunchtime.  The tree will be planted in Longford Park roughly in the centre of the gardens area of the park (next to the Japanese Gardens, number 17 in the map below) which is close to the Longford Park Stadium, Ryebank Road, Manchester M21 9TA.  Everyone who knew Naseeb is welcome to come along if they are free at that time, please pass the word on.

There will be some words to be spoken and some refreshments organised in some way.  There is also a really nice cafe in the park if anyone wants.  A group of Naseeb’s friends are getting a lot of this together and it will be a nice time to connect with each other and to remember Naseeb.  We’ll take some photos to post up and anybody visiting the park at any time will be able to go and re-connect in whatever way they feel is right.  The location is great for us because we live right next to the park.  Its also the park that Naseeb often cycled through to get to places, where we played tennis sometimes and where he used to chill with a few friends and a basketball.  Naseeb always liked that park.

The tree that will be planted is a Prunus cerasifera Nigra, Purple Leaved Cherry Plum tree with beautiful blossom that flowers around Naseeb’s birthday. He loved cherry blossom and eating plums. Originally we thought of a Laburnum tree, which was probably Naseeb’s favourite.  He grew up with a lovely one in the garden where we used to live until Naseeb was about 9 years old.  We would look out for them when out and about.  The problem with putting one in that particular spot in Longford Park is that the soil gets a bit waterlogged and Laburnums don’t take well to that kind of soil.  This particular cherry tree should be fine, it’s pretty tough and grows in all kinds of soil.

Thanks massively to Naseeb’s friends including Ev, Georgie, Erin, Kate and others for getting this started and keeping on the case with it along with some of our help.  Thanks also to the support from Friends of Longford Park and Dave Sykes (Environmental Services, Trafford)   without whom this would not have been possible.  Looking forward to seeing anyone who can make it over on the day.

Kooj and Balwant, Naseeb’s dad and mum.