Planting peace

Steffie Shields suggests how to celebrate VE Day 1945 – in your garden!

On 8th May 1945, at 23:01 Central European Summer Time, the unconditional surrender of Germany’s armed forces came into force. As word spread of the cessation of military operations, signalling Germany’s final defeat, ending the European part of the war, celebrations erupted throughout the Western world. Imagine one million people dancing and rejoicing in the streets throughout the kingdom!

Since that eventful day, the Allies of World War II have observed this date as Victory in Europe Day, a public holiday, abbreviated to VE Day. At 8am on 8th May, hundreds of town criers will undertake the VE Day Proclamation to mark the 80th Anniversary, with flags raised everywhere. Countless families will recall the parts played by their ancestors, especially retired military personnel. Current servicemen and women will reflect on their peace-keeping roles today.

At midday, pipers will play a specially written piece of music from the four UK peaks. At 6pm volunteer teams countrywide will ring church bells. Then as the sky darkens across the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories, at precisely 9.30pm, over 1,000 beacons and several hundred Lamp Lights of Peace will be lit, all these flames representing the ‘light of peace’ that emerged from the darkness of war.

John “Paddy” Hemingway DFC, the last surviving pilot of the iconic Battle of Britain passed away recently. In these concerning, uncertain times, with Europe tragically experiencing a devastating war once again in Ukraine, this end of an extraordinary era raises questions. How can we ensure that these young servicemen’s momentous stories continue to be told and honoured?

Flower power
Perhaps mark VE80 by enhancing your own garden in remembrance and gratitude. Refreshing “new to you” feature plants will engage with colour and fragrance. A new tree or flowering shrub will help to increase pollinators. The inconspicuous flowers of olive trees carry a profound symbolism of peace.

Visit specialists such as Spalding Farm Shop. A pair of half-hardy olive trees in free-draining soil or in large patio containers, in full sun, will lend a touch of the Mediterranean. Avoid overwatering; give them an odd prune and occasional dose of fertiliser. Protect them from frost – or, better still, transfer into a sheltered spot in winter.

Several specimen plants symbolise beauty, peace and harmony. Naturally beautiful to the eye, white roses and lilies create a serene environment and touches of joy, calming minds while ensuring delight and goodwill.

My favourite rose is one I first spied living in RAF quarters in Bader Crescent in Northumberland. Rosa ‘Peace’ is easy to identify. Its large, light yellow to cream flowers are slightly flushed at the petal edges with crimson and pink. I often came across ‘Peace’ moving to other stations but never realised its amazing story.

From 1935 to 1939, French horticulturalist, Francis Meilland first developed this hardy and vigorous hybrid tea-rose, naming it ‘Mme A. Meilland’ after his wife.

Foreseeing the German invasion of France, he sent cuttings to friends in Italy, Turkey, Germany and the United States. It is said that, before Germany invaded, those cuttings sent to the US were on the last plane available, to be safely propagated during the war. Afterwards, Meilland’s rose, renamed ‘Peace’, became hugely popular. By 1992, over 100 million were sold.

Then again, equally fascinating, large, fluffy peony flowers are also said to symbolise peace and prosperity even if short-lived. Who can resist one of the best, ‘Karl Rosenfield’? Its fragrant and striking crimson double flowers from early to mid-summer, among deeply cut, mid-green leaves, are an asset in any late spring garden/early summer garden. Treat yourself to Paeonia ‘Coral Charm’, a superb peony, but place an order before nurseries sell out!

Commemorative gardens
Locations such as the RAF Garden of Remembrance, Woodhall Spa, showcase plants and ideas for your own garden. Go to Love Lane, Spalding, to find the Garden of Peace in Ayscoughfee Hall Gardens. First created in 1994, it is laid to lawn with formal flower beds, containing many memorials, arranged around a central stone obelisk.

A similar obelisk in a Remembrance Garden on Wide Bargate Green, Boston, commemorates the fallen of both World War II and the Korean War, featuring a Veterans Walk with dedicatory plaques.

Peace gardens are always spaces worth visiting in gratitude and reflection. They keep memories alive, offer families solace, and educate the next generations as to the immense sacrifices made on their behalf.

A cenotaph-style memorial in Bourne, in the beautifully maintained and quiet Memorial Gardens on South Street, is set off by a backdrop of weeping willows on the river.

In Lincoln, a staggering 450 volunteers help care for International Bomber Command Centre’s two peace gardens plus a ‘Dig For Victory Garden’ growing fruit, vegetables and herbs, demonstrating how important the memorial Spire setting is to the local community.

The ‘Lincolnshire Peace Garden’ features 27 native trees marking each of the operational Bomber Command stations in the county during WWII, each station identified at the base on a marker, as also the squadrons that served there and the numbers lost.

The ‘International Peace Garden’ pays homage to 62 nations, from all five continents, which supported the Command, highlighting rarely told stories of their involvement.

Peace, promise and hope
I have mentioned before my father’s WWII memoir A Black Cat Abroad (Unicorn, November 2022). He served as a Territorial Officer in the Royal Artillery ‘Black Cat’ Division, ‘the gunners’.

His service included fighting for three years in North Africa and then in the Italian Campaign including at Salerno and Anzio. The Armistice of Cassibile, September 1943, marked the end of hostilities between Italy and the Allies, but it took a further year and nine months to defeat the Germans.

A special souvenir amongst his wartime papers and memorabilia, a poster is framed by colourful military badges of the various Allied units, as if celebratory flags. This remarkable record indicates just how many countries battled for the liberation of Italy. Alongside US, British and Italian units were Australian, Canadian, Indian, Polish, and South African units.

On 13th May 1945 these Allies attended the 8th Army VE Day Service in Monfalcone, Italy, a town significant in having been repeatedly bombed and heavily damaged by the Germans because it had become a centre of the Italian Resistance. At long last, here were prayers of thanks offered for this hard-fought-for victory in Europe.

I read recently that apple blossom also represents peace, promise and hope. Retiring in Welby, we inherited an apple tree centre stage in the garden’s principal view south. Researching the variety, it proved to be ‘Winston’ probably planted in 1965 to commemorate Sir Winston Churchill after his death.

A few years ago we added appropriate spring bulbs: Narcissus ‘Winston Churchill’. Now a gnarled veteran tree, ‘Winston’ brings extra meaning in every season, but especially with its budding pink blossom on VE Day. ‘We will remember them’ and give thanks.

NGS Charity Open Gardens
Sunday 4th May, Dunholme Lodge Dunholme, Lincoln LN2 3QA (11am–5pm).

Adm £5.50, children free, home-made teas. Refreshments in aid of St Chad’s Church. RAF Dunholme Lodge. Museum and War Memorial within the grounds.

See our Diary pages for other NGS charity gardens open during May.

VE80 events
Monday 5th May, 1.30pm Lincoln Cathedral VE80 1940s-themed Tea Dance with music from DJ Dr Swing, a specialised 1940s vinyl DJ, and the Blighty Belles, a 1940s tribute trio.

7pm VE80 Dinner Dance with music from DJ Dr Swing and Blighty Belles.

Thursday 8th May, International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) hosts a special event to commemorate VE Day.

‘VE Day 80 Beacon Lighting, Music and Dinner’, to focus on the sacrifice of the 57,861 men and women who lost their lives serving and supporting Bomber Command.

Saturday 17th May, The Band of the RAF College Cranwell performs an entertaining ‘VE80’ evening concert, together with Lincoln Cathedral Choir with the iconic building lit up in the colours of the Union Jack.

Saturday 17th May, 7pm St Bartholomew’s Church Welby ‘VE Day 80’ Military Wives Choir Concert.

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