Nature-loving Jane Plant is remembered for her dedication to Merton’s treescape

A sign has been placed in Morden Park in honour of a stalwart of the area who was part of a team responsible for planting and safeguarding trees in the borough.

The beautifully and highly-appropriately named Jane Plant – once the coordinator of the Merton Tree Wardens – was remembered in a special ceremony on Sunday.

The wooden sign was put up by an oak tree in tribute to her – the event organised by Mariana Pacheco, co-coordinator of Merton Friends of the Earth.

Set up in 1992, by the late Dave Lofthouse, arboricultural manager of the London Borough of Merton, the Merton Tree Wardens Group was led by him and Jane Plant – as a volunteer coordinator – from 1999.

Jane left the group a few years ago to be near her grandchildren and the Merton Tree Wardens are now looked after by Mary-Jane Jeanes.

Gabriel Partos, of Merton Friends of the Earth, said: “We were shocked and saddened to hear about Jane Plant’s death. She was tireless in her efforts to plant and protect trees in Merton and elsewhere over several decades.

“Jane was the guiding spirit behind Merton Friends of the Earth’s tree planting in Morden Park, which she helped to initiate four years ago, during the Covid pandemic.

“Since December 2020 Merton Friends of the Earth, have planted a total of over 1,200 trees in Morden Park – a wonderful array of native British trees provided by the Woodland Trust.

“Those trees will stand, with many others, as an eloquent memorial to Jane’s work to make Merton a cleaner, greener and more nature-friendly place.”

The sign reads: “In loving memory of Jane Plant, Merton Tree Warden, Environmental Champion and driving force behind Merton Friends of the Earth’s tree planting in Morden Park.  Her dedication to nature and her community leaves a lasting legacy.”

Pictured top: Paying tribute to a dear friend, from left: Mariana Pacheco, Gabriel Partos and Auriel Glanville, of Merton Friends of the Earth. (Picture: Alwyn Donnell)