UPDATE!

We are very sad to announce that this week, when the sculptor went to collect the wood from our tree from the timber yard, he discovered that it had all split and the quality of what was now left was not good enough to attempt a sculpture.

We have now decided that as the sculpture was all about preserving the memory of our tree, we will not continue to fundraise for this project.

Those people who have kindly donated, we will of course refund, but do want to thank you for your generous support of what we were trying to achieve for the centre.

Those of you who came into the centre and donated, we will be contacting you too next week.

Our very best wishes and thank you.

(For over a hundred years, one of the three iconic Blue Atlas Cedar trees in Ringwood provided cherished shade at Greyfriars Community Centre. Sadly, age and disease took their toll, and it was removed this year. Yet, its spirit lives on through a new sculpture by renowned artist Rob Beckinsale, crafted from the tree’s timber. The design celebrates our connection to the New Forest and its wildlife, with a nod to our beloved bookshop. These sculptures will stand near the tree’s original site, serving as a beautiful reminder and enhancing our garden, a hub for community activities year-round.

We invite the people of Ringwood and District to help fund this wonderful project. It’s a chance to commemorate our tree and ease the financial burden on the Community Centre. For 65 years, we've supported the community with diverse activities for all ages and abilities, entirely self-funded. By contributing to the sculpture project, we can focus our resources on maintaining our essential services.

We aim to raise £2250for the sculptures, installation, and landscaping. Please join us in creating this new Ringwood feature by donating at

Every contribution, no matter how small, will help bring this imaginative and lasting installation to life!)