We have installed four commemorative ‘Daffodil’ benches across the borough as a lasting tribute to those we lost during the Covid-19 pandemic. Installed ahead of the Covid-19 Day of Reflection on Sunday 9 March 2025, these benches provide a dedicated space for remembrance, reflection, and quiet contemplation.
The benches can be found in four peaceful locations, carefully chosen for their tranquil surroundings and accessibility to the community:
Each bench features an engraved plaque inscribed with a message of remembrance and a QR code linking to an online Book of Remembrance, where residents can leave personal messages in memory of loved ones. The book of remembrance can be found further down this page.
The benches feature a daffodil-inspired design, chosen for its symbolism of renewal and new beginnings. Just as daffodils bloom each spring, representing resilience and the promise of brighter days, these benches stand as a permanent reminder of the strength of our communities and the lives forever remembered.
Amber Valley Borough Council is proud to provide these benches as a meaningful landmark for reflection, ensuring that those we lost are never forgotten. Whether visiting to honour a loved one, reflect on personal experiences, or simply find a moment of peace, these benches offer a dedicated place for remembrance in some of the borough’s most cherished green spaces.
In 2026, Amber Valley Borough Council established an Avenue of Reflection at Ambergate Recreation Ground as a living tribute to those lost during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The avenue began with the planting of four trees to mark the Covid-19 Day of Reflection. Each year, two additional trees will be planted, gradually forming a peaceful avenue where residents can come to remember loved ones and reflect on the lasting impact of the pandemic.
Set within the tranquil surroundings of Ambergate Recreation Ground, the Avenue of Reflection has been designed to grow over time, creating a natural and contemplative space for the community.
The trees planted are Taxodium distichum, commonly known as swamp cypress. Known for their strength and striking autumn colours of orange, yellow and red, these trees will gradually shape a distinctive landscape of remembrance as they mature.
Together with the commemorative benches located across the borough, the Avenue of Reflection forms part of Amber Valley Borough Council’s lasting commitment to ensuring that the lives lost during the pandemic are remembered for generations to come.
Visitors are welcome to spend time at the avenue to reflect, remember, and honour those whose lives were touched by Covid-19.
The Covid-19 pandemic touched all our lives in ways we could never have imagined. As part of Covid-19 Reflection Day 2025, this online book of remembrance provides a space to honour and remember those we lost.
We invite you to leave a personal tribute in memory of a loved one. Whether you wish to share a name, a message, or simply a few words of reflection, this book is a way to ensure their memory lives on within our community.
Your messages will be displayed alongside those from others across Amber Valley, creating a lasting tribute to those we have lost.
To add a message, please complete the form and once your message has been approved it will be displayed below.
Contact the team directly on 01773 570222 or email enquiry@ambervalley.gov.uk
