After Fr Anthony Storey died in May 2007, the Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission agreed to try and raise £1,000 for the Woodland Trust, in order to dedicate an acre of woodland in his memory. Thanks to the generosity of many of his friends, in the Diocese and beyond, we were able to reach this target comfortably.

The next step was to choose a suitable spot. After a lot of thought, we decided on a wood near the village of Everingham, where his family lived during the Second World War. After he was evacuated from the English College in Rome, Tony spent some time at Everingham before resuming his training for the Priesthood at Stonyhurst. He loved the woods and countryside of his native East Riding and therefore it seemed a suitable place to dedicate an acre of woodland.

We didn’t realise quite how suitable it was until we learned from one of his friends that, in fact, Tony knew the wood extremely well. For many years he visited it every month. He had even organised tree-planting events there in partnership with the Woodland Trust. Many of the younger trees are ‘his’.

The parishioners of Holy Cross, where Tony spent so many years, have very kindly offered to sponsor a bench in the wood. We are planning to hold a service in the wood in November to dedicate the acre and the bench. At the same time, we hope to plant some of the trees Tony grew from seed in his back garden in Hull. If you would like to come, please get in touch so we can add your name to our contacts list and inform you of the date.

New Covert Wood is open to the general public and can be visited any time. It is a mixed wood, quite wet under foot, full of birdsong and usually empty of people. The Woodland Trust gives directions at www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/woods/ Just enter ‘New Covert Wood’ in the search box. Alternatively, telephone (01476) 581135 or contact Susan Frost.

The Justice and Peace Commission would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who has made the Woodland Trust dedication possible.

For more details, or to put your name on our contacts list, please contact Susan Frost on (01904) 638836 or e-mail frost.susan@gmail.com