Dr Kershaw's Hospice
Oldham, OL2 6EU
Car park facility available
There are currently no new memorials available at this location. You can still add to an existing memorial.
Turf Lane
Royton
Oldham
OL2 6EU
UNITED KINGDOM
The Memorial Forest at Dr Kershaw’s was officially opened in 2004. Since then, what was once an unused lawn has grown into a beautiful and maturing woodland space. It has not only provided a peaceful place for remembrance but has also contributed over £85,000 in donations and gifts in kind, supporting the hospice in caring for the local community of Oldham.
Our Life for a Life planting areas are designed as natural environments where wildlife and plant life are encouraged to flourish. To protect this delicate ecosystem, we kindly ask that no additional items be placed on trees or in the surrounding areas, as these can cause damage. Please note that any items left on or around memorial trees that do not comply with these guidelines may be respectfully removed.
Although the Memorial Forest is now fully planted and no longer open for new tree dedications, families with existing memorial trees are still welcome to scatter additional ashes and arrange memorial keepsakes.
Looking to the future?
As the forest matures, you will begin to notice changes in how the site is managed. Our vision is to allow the woodland to develop naturally into a thriving, sustainable habitat that can be enjoyed by both visitors and wildlife for generations to come.
This will include more environmentally sensitive management practices. For example, grass cutting will gradually be reduced as the tree canopy develops, encouraging a richer diversity of wildflowers and ground flora.
All memorial trees are guaranteed for 25 years. If any tree does not establish successfully, it will be replaced with suitable understory species such as Hazel, Hawthorn, or Holly, helping to create a more diverse and resilient woodland.
As the trees grow, they will also undergo crown lifting, where lower branches are carefully removed. This helps maintain access throughout the woodland while allowing more light and air to reach the ground beneath.
Memorial Plaques
As part of the forest’s natural transition from a formal memorial setting to a woodland environment, the plaques currently placed in front of each tree will eventually be removed. This change will take place gradually and with sensitivity.
Although plaques will no longer be present in the future, each tree’s location is carefully recorded using GPS, ensuring it can always be identified. In addition, every dedication is permanently recorded in the Book of Remembrance, which can be viewed in the hospice chapel.
This approach allows the Memorial Forest to continue honouring loved ones in a meaningful way, while evolving into a lasting, living tribute within a beautiful natural setting.