Rory’s Wood
Dec 2025 - Mar 2026
CREating a legacy, one tree at a time
Creating Nature’s Corridors is proud to launch its 2025/26 planting programme with a landmark partnership with Grafham Water. At its heart is the creation of Rory’s Wood - a vibrant 35-acre woodland on the western edge of the reservoir. This new green space will offer the local community a sanctuary to reconnect with nature and support our mission to restore and reconnect habitats across the landscape.
To help bring this vision to life, sponsorship will be available for 500 of the 17,500 trees - giving individuals a meaningful way to dedicate a tree in honour of a loved one. Creating Rory’s Wood will require a huge collective effort, and we are calling on donations and volunteering support from both organisations and the wider public to make it happen.
BE PART OF A LEGACY AND SPONSOR A TREE IN MEMORY TODAY
Plant a Legacy: Remember or Celebrate Someone Special at Rory's Wood
Would you like to honour a loved one in a place that will grow and flourish for generations?
As part of Rory's Wood at Grafham Water, we will create a dedicated memorial area where you can plant a tree or sponsor a bench in memory or celebration of someone who matters to you.
What makes this special:
When you arrive at Rory's Wood, you'll find a beautiful wall of remembrance featuring the names of loved ones being honoured through this project. On the reverse side, there will be a bug hotel to support biodiversity, a living testament to how remembrance and renewal go hand in hand.
How it works:
Memorial Tree: Plant a native tree that will stand as a living tribute for decades to come
Memorial Bench Sponsor a bench where families can sit, reflect, and watch the woodland grow
When you purchase a tree or bench, we'll be in touch to arrange a visit to the site, share the exact location of your tribute, and invite you to participate in the planting if you'd like.
Create lasting change in memory of lasting love.
Thank you for helping us create a place where memory, nature and community meet.
CNC – Memorial benches and plaques - FAQ’s
How much does dedicating a bench cost?
Dedicating a bench at Rory’s Wood costs £500. This covers the cost of producing the bench, a personalised plaque, delivery and installation (including any groundworks that need to be completed) and maintaining the bench for 10 years.
Can I choose where my bench goes?
We have space for eight benches at Rory’s Wood. If you would like to choose the site of your bench, one of our team members can meet you at Rory’s Wood and identify a suitable spot. Alternatively, we are happy to pick a nice location on your behalf if this is easier.
Can I pick the design of the bench?
No, unfortunately not, we already have an approved design. No modifications to the bench are permitted.
Each bench is handcrafted from grade A sustainably sourced teak hardwood, using traditional mortise and tenon joinery techniques that enhance the strength and durability of the wood. Measuring 1.5 metres long, there is generous space for three adults to sit together, making it an ideal spot for family visits, quiet reflection, or simply watching the woodland come alive with wildlife.
The natural honey-gold hue of the teak will gradually weather to a beautiful silver-grey, allowing the bench to become a truly organic part of the landscape, as if it has always belonged there. Just like the trees growing around it, your bench will deepen and evolve with the seasons.
Thanks to teak's natural oils, the bench is weather-resistant, low-maintenance and built to withstand the British climate all year round. Our memorial benches offer a beautiful and lasting way to honour a loved one within one of our growing woodlands. Seating three people in spacious comfort, each bench features large flat armrests and a gently sloping back for extra support, perfect for pausing to take in the natural world growing around you.
Will the bench belong to me?
No. The bench will remain the property of Anglian Water and Creating Nature’s Corridors, who will take full responsibility for maintaining the bench for 15 years.
How long does my bench dedication last?
A bench dedication lasts for 15 years. We will contact you six months before the end of the dedication period with an update on the condition of the bench. It is vital that you keep us up-to-date with your details so that we can contact you. At the end of the 15-year dedication period, you will usually have the opportunity to renew your dedication for a further 15 years for an additional contribution, subject to forest management plans. If you choose not to dedicate a new bench, your plaque will be sent to the address we hold for you at the end of the original dedication period.
How long do benches take to be installed?
Timeframes for completing dedications will vary, depending on our suppliers’ workloads at the time and weather conditions. We can’t guarantee the installation of your bench by a given date, but your dedication period won’t begin until your bench has been installed.
What happens if my bench is damaged?
The bench will be regularly checked by our site team. If the bench is damaged to the point of being unusable, we will replace it at our cost and inform you. Anglian Water reserves the right to remove the bench if needed for safety reasons. We will endeavour to contact you if your dedication bench needs to be moved.
What can I have written on my plaque?
Your inscription can be up to 3 lines, each line no more than 35 characters in length and will be engraved onto a 30mm x 150mm brass plaque. We ask that inscriptions have a celebratory tone, and we welcome inscriptions that share what your loved one enjoyed or provide information about their connection with the park.
We welcome text in foreign languages, provided there is an English translation on the same plaque.
Can I dedicate a tree instead of a bench?
Yes, the cost of dedicating a tree is £75. Included in this cost is an engraved brass plaque, size 30mm x 150mm, with room for a maximum of 3 lines with 35 characters per line. This dedication plaque will be sited on the beautiful Rory’s Wood sign/wall of remembrance as you enter the new wood. This remembrance wall will feature the names of loved ones being honoured through this project. On the reverse side, there will be a bug hotel to support biodiversity, a living testament to how remembrance and renewal go hand in hand.
Can I leave flowers or scatter ashes at the bench or in the forest?
Please keep dedication benches and the forest clear of floral tributes. Flowers can introduce pests and diseases that are harmful to the forest, and their packaging can harm wildlife and habitats.
It is not possible to scatter ashes at Rory’s Wood. Sadly, ashes contain minerals in concentrations that can impact soil composition and harm plants and trees, as well as affect the water at Grafham Water reservoir itself. This can also impact the wildlife that relies on this environment for shelter and food.
How will you keep in touch with me about the bench?
We will keep in touch with you in whichever way you would prefer; by phone, post or email. We will take these details when you dedicate a bench and ask what your preferred way of communicating is. It is your responsibility to keep us up to date with your contact details.