In 2006, Ian and Sheila tragically lost their daughter, Katherine. Ian said, “one of my last conversations with my daughter Katherine was when she asked me to look at planting more trees in the park.” Ian and Sheila went above and beyond this request and planted 4 acres of trees to create Katherine’s Wood in Lavender Hall Park, Balsall Common, in her memory. They had support from a ‘Breathing Spaces Big Lottery’ grant and Rotary, as well as friends and family, Solihull Council and the Trust.
“Over the last 20 years, the woodland has flourished, creating more homes for wildlife and becoming a much-loved green space for the local community."
Ian and Sheila Courts are lifelong nature lovers. “Wildlife, especially birds, have always had an important place in our world.”
That is why, when it came to writing their will, they chose to remember Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and leave a gift to support nature in the future.
Katherine’s Wood has created an incredible legacy for the local area, both for wildlife and people. But Ian and Sheila have also left another legacy, by remembering Warwickshire Wildlife Trust in their will. They felt it was important to choose a charity that was both local and accountable and were pleased to find the will writing process painless. “It doesn’t have to be people or nature; we can support both. Warwickshire Wildlife Trust are one of the most important ways of finding this balance”.
“Katherine’s Wood was not just a new woodland, but, reflecting on earlier thoughts, was aimed at providing a wildlife corridor across the park.” A range of native species were planted including oak, small-leaved lime, willows and rowan, with hazel, holly and Guelder-rose. Over the last 20 years, the woodland has flourished, creating more homes for wildlife and becoming a much-loved green space for the local community.
Ian grew up in Cambridgeshire and bought his first bird book as a child when on holiday in Norfolk. Since then, he has taken a keen interest in wildlife, especially birds, and has always felt his travels have been enriched by wildlife spotting.
Sheila also grew up in Cambridgeshire and whilst working as a teacher in Luton, realised the value of nature connectedness for school children.
They moved to the West Midlands in 1997 and joined Warwickshire Wildlife Trust in 2004. Ian remembers his first conversation with Andy Tasker, the late founding CEO of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust. “One of the lasting points he made, which has stayed in my memory, is the need for wildlife to have corridors of movement, both at a local and strategic level.” Ian was leader of Solihull Council until he decided to stand down this May and has always kept Andy’s words at the forefront of his mind.
Find out more about leaving a gift in your will on our Gifts in Wills page.