Wayne's tree will welcome everyone
By John Lawrence. As published on The Archer, May 2025
Volunteers at Long Lane Pasture have planted a tree in memory of their longtime friend and pasture stalwart Wayne Armsby, who died in 2024. The striking silver birch stands near the entrance to the nature reserve, welcoming visitors as they come through the gates.
Wayne was instrumental in saving the rough pasture from development more than 25 years ago and went on to become the group's treasurer as well as working on the land to transform it into the beautiful wildlife haven that it is today. His friends and fellow volunteers gathered on Saturday 12 April to place the tall sapling in the ground with forget-me-nots around its base. Pasture volunteer Donald Lyven paid tribute saying: "Wayne was a man who believed in planting trees and he planted many here."
Wayne's wife Elsie Price-Armsby said: "When we knew he was dying, Wayne chose a silver birch. It was one of his favourite trees, a very resilient ancient native species. I'm glad we've got such a lovely spot for it to welcome people into the pasture." Long Lane Pasture is now open every day from 9am to 7pm or dusk. Volunteers meet every Saturday from 10am to noon to keep the site looking good. They thanked readers of The Archer and everyone who contributed to a recent fundraising drive, helping them to buy essential new gardening equipment and secure units to store it on site.