Sussex commemorates Covid victims by joining Healing Trees global campaign
By: Jacob Norris
Last updated: Tuesday, 17 May 2022

Layla Zaglul Ruiz from Global Studies plants the silver birch tree outside Shawcross
On 4 and 5 May this year, people in over 50 countries around the world planted trees for the Healing Trees global campaign. The initiative is honouring the victims of Covid by bringing new life in the form of trees that represent hope and dignity. Over 5 million trees have been planted as part of the project, matching the number of Covid victims when the project was first launched.
At Sussex, academics and students from the schools of Global Studies and Media Arts and Humanties (MAH) joined the campaign by planting a symbolic tree outside the Shawcross Building where an older tree recently had to be removed. The event was livestreamed on the Healing Trees website to audiences around the world. In keeping with the ethos of Healing Trees, a native species - a silver birch - was selected for the planting. This is planned to be the first of several new trees that will be planted around the campus.
Further information: https://healingtrees.org/