We planted a loquat tree in Clissold Park to commemorate Turkish Cypriot Cultural Association’s 45th anniversary

We planted the loquat tree on 10 March 2023, Friday, at 12:30

Despite adverse weather conditions, members of our association and representatives from Hackney Council were present at our tree planting activity on March 10 2023, which was held to celebrate our association’s 45^th anniversary.

Philip Glanville, Mayor of Hackney, sent his apologies and was unable to attend due to a prior commitment; but Councillors Caroline Woodley and Soraya Adajera were with us to represent Hackney Council. We would like to also thank Sarah Watson (Programme Director – Hackney Giving at the Hackney CVS), Elizabeth Green (Senior Archives Officer at Hackney Archives), and Cornelia Harrison (Step Up Progression Coach – Volunteer Centre Hackney) for being with us.

Our Trustee Halil Salih welcomed everyone with a brief opening statement. Moreover, councillors also addressed the audience thanking Alone for its contribution to Hackney and neighbouring boroughs; they also expressed their appreciation for being part of this significant event which is a milestone for the association.

We would like to thank everyone for standing by us, literally and metaphorically. We finally have our own tree which you can see during your visits to the park; you can even taste its fruits in the years to come. In a few months, we will install a bench across our tree; you can sit on it and have a rest or read your book while enjoying the view.

This activity is part of the “Turkish Cypriots in London” Heritage Project, which has been in progress since June 2022. Gulnur Salih is the project coordinator and Papatya Alkan-Genca works as project officer.

The planting of this tree took place only after a lengthy period of planning, numerous emails and phone calls with Hackney Council, several in person meetings in the park to decide on the exact location of the tree. It was an arduous process; even finding an appropriate loquat tree was challenging. Despite all these challenges, however, we are happy and proud that we have finally had our tree planted.

The loquat tree was selected both because it is quite widespread in Northern Cyprus and Turkish Cypriots’ gardens in the UK and also it symbolises “endurance and luck,” – the former representing the hardships Turkish Cypriots have faced, the latter emphasising the luck brought by a “newfoundland” which is the UK and London in general and Hackney in particular.

For those interested, the location of the tree: The closest entrance: the side entrance on the south of the park at Green Lanes N16 (177 Green Lanes – N16 9DB). (across the Clissold Park Tavern).