Interpretation Board: Covid Commemorative Curve of snowdrops

The Snowdrop Curve film…

How did Covid affect you?  three events were organised earlier in the year for people to gather, discuss and write about their experiences through Covid…

Last year the Covid Commemorative Curve of Snowdrops was planted by people from Whalley Range, in Alexandra Park. The curve symbolises the ups and downs of the pandemic and the plants will make a green and living memorial, a place to reflect on the loss and pain that came with Covid.

This year we want to honour your experiences of living through Covid. We are organising gatherings where you can talk with others and share experiences. A local poet, Tony Curry, will work with you, to write and record your thoughts as poems.

Your words will be recorded and combined with songs performed by local schoolchildren to create a short film. The interpretation board QR code in the park will link to the film.

This will be a further commemoration of our responses to the Covid events.

GATHERINGS to talk and write; choose a date and time that works for you.

Tuesday 17th January 1045 to 1300 at the Pavilion Café in Alexandra Park.

Tuesday 17th January at 1715 to 1930 at British Muslim Heritage Centre, College Road M16

Thursday 19th January 1045 to 1300 at the Pavilion Café in Alexandra Park.

Booking not essential, just come along on your chosen date.

On Feb 11th 2023 at 11am come and see the curve of snowdrops in flower.

Tea and coffee will be served from the Park Lodge.

Why will local community groups and residents be creating a MASS PLANTING OF SNOWDROPS in Alexandra Park Whalley Range Manchester on March 12th at 10.30am?
We will be gathered together because we want to COMMEMORATE THOSE WHO SUFFERED FROM COVID AND THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES, as well as the hard work of all those who cared for us during the pandemic. Planting snowdrops will CONNECT ALL OUR COMMUNITIES IN A COLLABORATIVE MEMORIAL to CREATE A CONTEMPLATIVE SPACE for us to remember the suffering and pain of loss every year.
Why Snowdrops?
Snowdrops flower in February, the time when the pandemic started in Europe, and once planted they will come back every year at that time as a living reminder. Snowdrops are pure white and tear shaped, symbolising grief, yet their arrival is often seen as the first sign of the returning spring and returning hope. This Curve will beautify the space permanently and expand every year as the snowdrops set seeds and spread under the trees.
We hope you can report this for us and inspire others to plan their own Covid Commemorative Curve of snowdrops!