Unique Tree of Hope is lit up at Wigan's hospital

A special Tree of Hope has been installed and illuminated at Wigan Infirmary.
By Charles Graham
Published 8th May 2020, 08:02 BST
Updated 8th May 2020, 08:04 BST
Martin Coop, head of projects at Festive Lights, Sofia Coop aged eight, Mary Fleming chief operating officer at WWL, and Matt Higginson, commercial sales director at Festive Lights as the tree is lit up for the first timeMartin Coop, head of projects at Festive Lights, Sofia Coop aged eight, Mary Fleming chief operating officer at WWL, and Matt Higginson, commercial sales director at Festive Lights as the tree is lit up for the first time
Martin Coop, head of projects at Festive Lights, Sofia Coop aged eight, Mary Fleming chief operating officer at WWL, and Matt Higginson, commercial sales director at Festive Lights as the tree is lit up for the first time

The “tree”, donated to Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL) by local company, Festive Lights, is lit using LED lighting technology in a permanent feature that is the very first of its kind in the UK.

And it is hoped that the tree, sited outside the hospital’s Christopher Home building on Wigan Lane, will serve as a reminder of the dedication of trust staff and medical workers across the borough.

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A switch-on event was held on Thursday at 8pm, to coincide with the national Clap for our Carers and saw the Tree of Hope lit up by 9,000 LEDs, in alternating NHS bright blue and rainbow displays. The tree is then on Friday displaying colours celebrating the 75th anniversary of VE Day as an added mark of thanks to those in the armed forces.

A rainbow sits over the newly illuminated Tree of HopeA rainbow sits over the newly illuminated Tree of Hope
A rainbow sits over the newly illuminated Tree of Hope

WWL chief operating officer Mary Fleming said: “To have something so prominent at the front of our hospital really does serve as a reminder of all the hard work and dedication of our staff across the whole of the trust and the wider Wigan borough.

“A big thank-you must go to Festive Lights for installing the tree; it really is fantastic.”

Festive Lights created the spectacular animated lighting installation, which will illuminate the tree using the very latest in LED technology.

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The company's general manager Stephen Alty said: “This is about us, as an organisation, saying thank you to the NHS and helping them spread their message for people to stay safe and at home.”

The Tree of Hope stands outside Christopher Home at Wigan InfirmaryThe Tree of Hope stands outside Christopher Home at Wigan Infirmary
The Tree of Hope stands outside Christopher Home at Wigan Infirmary

“These innovative lights create a near limitless number of stunning visual effects; they are controlled remotely, and will provide the hospital with the most amazing permanent lighting feature that will be the very first of its kind in the UK.”

In future, it is hoped that the tree will be used to encourage people to donate to the recently established WWL Healthcare Heroes fund.

Related topics:NHSWigan InfirmaryWigan