Holocaust Memorial Day, 27 January: Bridging Generations
In Shropshire, the approach that we have been taking for the last ten years in Shropshire is to work with primary schools in ways that will be age appropriate and memorable for them, through planting cherry trees across our very large and rural county.
The Council and partners will take this very timely opportunity to show joint commitment against racism and religious hatred, and joint commitment to working with our children and young people. Our aim is to help them grow up with greater awareness and understanding about the Holocaust and other genocides, and why these must not happen again.
For us, it is very much about working across generations and faiths, and about helping the children of the county to grow alongside the trees. The theme for 2026 of “Bridging generations” is very apt. It will be our 21st tree, so the orchard is coming of age.
We are planting in Whitchurch in the north of the county, at Whitchurch Junior School, having been in Ludlow in the south in 2025, and Whitchurch Town Council are kindly donating the cherry tree.
The school are also working towards making an artwork flame. The idea is that each child in school creates a handprint which is then mounted into the flame design and then we fill the flames with names of family members under the heading of bridging generations.
The intention is to involve the portfolio holder for children and education, who is also the local councillor, and the Mayor of Whitchurch Town Council, along with interfaith forum colleagues, so that they can help create the artwork and in so doing take the opportunity to reflect and share on what has been achieved in the last ten years, and how special the Whitchurch tree will be in helping our orchard to grow.
This will then be a collective piece of artwork that really brings the theme to life, and provides a fitting way for us all in Shropshire to commemorate the planting of what will be our 21st tree.
