The Monument

Woodbridge Trees for Peace are publicly dedicated as tangible symbols for the invisible condition we call 'peace'.

The purpose of the Monument is to stimulate talk, thought and activities that will make peace stronger. The Trees provide peaceful places where people can meet to support each other in doing those things.

The size of the monument reflects the high value we place on peace. This Monument can be seen from space.

The Woodbridge Trees for Peace

Woodbridge Tree for Peace 2017

Norwegian Maple

This acer platanoides, Norway Maple ‘Goldsworth Purple’, lives close to Woodbridge’s Kingston Farm Road in IP12 4BE at What3Words ///clock.watch.piglets

Planted in 1955 the tree now commands one corner of a field generously given then by the farmer for a Town recreation ground.

The tree was chosen in 2017 as a representation of peace for its noble character and generous summertime shade. It is always accessible and spacious as a location for public expressions of interest, concern or joy about peace.

The tree’s role and character were quickly captured in poetry that models a human capacity essential for peace – empathy.

Woodbridge Tree for Peace 2021

American Oak

This quercus rubra American Oak lives in the atop Woodbridge’s Fen Meadow reached via Portland Crescent towards IP12 4BG and at What3Words ///cheerful.dinner.fuses

Planted around 1995 it adds interest to the summit of a popular field footpath. It was chosen in 2021 as a second symbolic representation of peace and destination for a pleasant walk.

Its vista towards the town centre is flanked at right by a hedgerow green lane and at left by a coppice-concealed quarry. The lower meadow hosted a Napoleonic era military field hospital.

A seat nearby looks towards the town. An identifying plaque hangs on the cemetery fence.

Woodbridge Tree for Peace 2025

Copper Beech

This fine maturing Copper Beech crowns a mixed border corner of the Bandstand lawn of Woodbridge's central Elmhurst Park in IP12 1DB and at What3Words ///albatross.moss.beside

Planted around 2005 the tree adds volume, shape and seasonally varied colour close to a spot favoured by Bandstand audiences.

It joins the Town's other Trees for Peace to extend their network from the Town's edge to its centre touching a dozen more points of interest and of advocacy for Peace.

An identifying plaque is mounted near ground level in the border and facing the Bandstand.

Origin, motivation, inspiration and vision

The origin of the Woodbridge Trees for Peace Monument was in 2017

Its motivations included:

- the low profile of peace in public education
- the evidence that global peace is becoming weaker
- the persistence and degenerating character of violence in conflicts

Its inspiration was a century of insightful progress in knowledge and understanding of peace

Its vision is to elevate the public profile of Peace alongside and above that of War

In that way peace can – step by step - grow

For more on your part in making that happen explore the other sections of this website

Embodiment, growth and purpose

Since 2017 Woodbridge Town Council has agreed three trees in its public places to be named as tangible symbol and representations of peace – the Woodbridge Trees for Peace 2017, 2021 and 2025.

The second tree in 2021 added a natural Trail for Peace as a foundation for activity-based learning. The third tree added in 2025 commemorated the 1945 end of World War in Europe. Concern for declining global peace urged the creation of this website as a further resource for learning.

Together, the Trees, Trail and website form a local monument intended as an instrument for peace to stimulate globally relevant learning.

Purpose, Action and Learning

Increasingly, this site will list relevant activities and steps in learning …
to promote awareness and use of our basic human skills for making peace
to support practical actions that will make peace stronger, and
to invite participation everywhere and anywhere in understanding more about peace.

Gifts to Peace

Each step in awareness and learning, and each activity carried out, is likely to be a 'Gift to Peace'. It will add at least to the personal peace of its maker or makers and quite possibly to that of interested witnesses.

For more about how Peace can be made to grow see Posts in the JOURNAL and other page.

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News

A monument beyond the trees: trail for peace

Woodbridge Trails for Peace connect the town’s Trees for Peace.

Those Trees are tangible symbols and inspiring representations of Peace. Their practical role is to promote Learning and Action that will make Peace stronger.

Many ways of adding strength to Peace are suggested by the 20th century’s ground-breaking advances in humanity’s understanding of Peace.

Globally, the United Nations Organisation (UNO) and others apply those advances successfully in some of the world’s most worrying places.

Global Peace is falling though because not all such places are accessible and even with our charitable donations UNO and others have insufficient resources to help everywhere.

The Learning and Action activities promoted by the Woodbridge Trees for Peace are simple ways of giving practical ‘grassroots’ support to UNO by reducing its workload.

DOWNLOAD TRAIL GUIDE

The virtual monument

Trees from around the country that act as a symbol for peace in our virtual monument

Apple garden nature background sunny autumn day. Gardening and harvesting. Fall apple crops organic natural fruits. Apple tree with ripe fruits on branches. Apple harvest concept.

Where is your tree for peace?

By sending a photo and a location Postcode of one of your local favourite trees, you can help to grow the Monument. It'll reinforce your own feeling of Peace and the ideas that Peace is everywhere and that every tree can be a symbol of Peace.

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