As with most people, my understanding of remembrance has been shaped by personal experience.

In 2025, my grandfather passed away at 98, leaving my grandmother bereft. The couple were born within a week of one another, married at 16, and spent over 70 years together. Although my grandmother died not long after her husband, the time she survived him was heartbreaking.

At 98 herself, she was unable to visit a grave to grieve in a traditional way. I found myself thinking about how she might keep my grandfather close. A plant felt apt, as they were farming people, and a tree would be something grandma could tend to, sit beside, and speak to. In some way, although changed, the remanence of a relationship and their connection lived on.

For both of their funerals, we created a film of photographs from their lives, alongside an audio recording of them speaking about their relationship over the years. It was a powerful experience, and something I was grateful to have – not only for that moment, but for how it could connect future generations.

From this came the idea of a memorial that could hold both: a physical presence to live alongside, and a place where memories and life stories could be preserved and shared over time.