Growing Anne Frank s legacy

Transcription

1 Growing Anne Frank s legacy

2 Dear Friend Anne Frank Tree Planting Thank you for downloading our Anne Frank Tree Planting Pack. More than 500 cities, towns, schools, libraries and public places across Britain have planted an Anne Frank Tree to remember all children killed through wars and persecution. Enclosed in this pack you will find everything you need to make your Anne Frank Tree Planting Ceremony a meaningful event. It includes a specially commissioned poem by the former Children s Laureate Michael Rosen. Also included is the Anne Frank Declaration which has been signed by world leaders, MPs, celebrities and thousands of British people, young and old. You may already have thought about the format of your ceremony. On the other hand, you might appreciate some advice. You will find enclosed a ceremony (about 15 minutes in length) that you may wish to use or adapt to suit your own needs although we think it important that each planting should have its own character and local relevance. We wish you a successful event. We would very much appreciate a digital photo, short report and any press cuttings relating to your event. We are creating a database of all the Anne Frank Trees in the UK and Ireland. Thank you for engaging with the Anne Frank Tree Planting project, we look forward to hearing from you. With our warmest wishes The Anne Frank Trust Team 2

3 What s in the pack? Your Tree Planting Pack Inside this pack you ll find all the information you ll need to successfully hold a tree planting ceremony in your local park, school grounds or back garden. 1. Tree Planting Checklist 2. Your Tree 3. Your Plaque 4. Template of Ceremony 5. Quotes from Anne Frank 6. Suggested readings, poems, music 7. Sample Press Release 8. Sample Invitation 9. Advice for Funding 10. Tell Us About Your Tree 11. About the Anne Frank Trust UK 3

4 Tree Planting Checklist Here s a helpful checklist to make sure you ve got everything ready to have a successful tree planting ceremony. Arrange date and time for your Tree planting ceremony Decide whether you will run any other activities along with the Tree Planting ceremony- see the Events pack for other ideas Order tree and arrange delivery- see our recommended website for where you can order your tree Agree on wording for your plaque and ensure it will be ready in time- see our suggested text Choose a suitable location for planting the tree, e.g. local park or school garden Make sure you have the necessary permission for using this space Contact your local Mayor and invite them to the Tree planting ceremony Approach a local sponsor, if necessary, to donate the tree and plaque- see our list for helpful suggestions Inform and invite local press to photograph and report on the event- use our press release template Send invitations to guests- see our template for invitations Consider parking and travel needs for the guests Hire chairs for the guests, if necessary Make sure shovels are available on the day to plant your tree Finalise the outline of the ceremony- you can use the model we ve provided, but we recommend you make it more relevant to your local area Decide upon some suitable readings for the ceremony- see our suggestions of poems and quotations from Anne s diary Choose someone appropriate to lead the ceremony e.g. Head Teacher, Town Mayor Choose individuals to read extracts from the diary, Anne Frank Declaration and poem e.g. school pupils Go ahead and plant your tree! Let us know how your ceremony went! You can send us pictures or press cuttings to: The Anne Frank Tree Campaign, The Anne Frank Trust UK, Star House, Grafton Road, London, NW5 4BA. Tel: info@annefrank org.uk 4

5 Your Tree Where to buy your tree and how to look after it One of the most important decisions you need to make when planning your Tree Planting ceremony is the type of tree you are going to plant. The tree which Anne looked out onto at the back of the Secret Annex was a Chestnut Tree, however this type of tree will not be suitable in all environments. Listed below are links from the Royal Horticultural Society website, giving suggestions and tips on how to choose your tree depending on the area it will be planted in and how to look after it. To ensure your tree grows healthily and that it will serve as a reminder of Anne s short life for years to come, follow the guidance and recommendations. Unfortunately we are not able to supply the tree for your tree planting ceremony, but below are a few websites of companies in the UK and Ireland that we have found where you can order a variety of trees which are delivered to your door. Or alternatively you can just visit your local garden centre. Advice from the Royal Horticultural Society Buying a tree online 5

6 Your Plaque Where to buy your tree plaque In order to dedicate your tree to the memory of Anne Frank, you might like to have a special plaque to mark the tree planting, stating when the tree was planted and by whom. Below are links to two companies who offer different types of plaques to suit the environment you are planting your tree. Alternatively you can ask your local garden centre where they suggest you might buy a tree plaque. Suggested Text ANNE FRANK S TREE PLANTED BY (insert name) ON (insert date) How wonderful it is that no-one need wait but can start right now to gradually change the world. - Anne Frank To commemorate Anne Frank and all children killed through wars and persecution. Sponsored by (Insert Name of sponsor) Arranged with The Anne Frank Trust UK Reg. charity no With thanks to (Insert name of council/school who owns land) 6

7 Quotes from Anne Frank Anne wrote quite eloquently about the Chestnut tree outside the secret Annexe in her diary. Below are some examples you may wish to read during your ceremony or inscribe onto your plaque. 23 February 1944 But I also looked out of the open window, letting my eyes roam over a large part of Amsterdam, over the rooftops and on to the horizon, a strip of blue so pale it was almost invisible. As long as this exists, I thought, this sunshine and this cloudless sky, and as long as I can enjoy it, how can I be sad? The best remedy for those who are frightened, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere they can be alone, alone with the sky, nature and God. For then and only then can you feel that everything is as it should be and that God wants people to be happy amid nature s beauty and simplicity. As long as this exists, and that should be for ever, I know that there will be solace for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances. I firmly believe that nature can bring comfort to all who suffer. 14 April 1944 I m occasionally sentimental, as you know, but from time to time I have reason to be: when Peter and I are sitting close together on a hard wooden crate among the junk and dust, our arms around each other s shoulders, Peter toying with a lock of my hair; when the birds outside are trilling their songs, when the trees are in bud, when the sun beckons and the sky is so blue oh, that s when I wish for so much! 18 April 1944 After our mild winter we ve been having a beautiful spring. April is glorious, not too hot and not too cold, with occasional light showers. Our chestnut tree is in leaf, and here and there you can already see a few small blossoms. Bep presented us on Saturday with four bouquets of flowers: three bouquets of daffodils, and one bouquet of grape hyacinths for me. 19 April 1944 What could be nicer than sitting before an open window, enjoying nature, listening to the birds sing, feeling the sun on your cheeks and holding a darling boy in your arms? 3 May 1944 Every day I feel myself maturing, I feel liberation drawing near, I feel the beauty of nature and the goodness of the people around me. Every day I think what a fascinating and amusing adventure this is! With all that, why should I despair? 13 May 1944 My dearest Kitty, Yesterday was Father s birthday, Father and Mother s nineteenth wedding anniversary, a day without the cleaning lady... and the sun was shining as it s never shone before in Our chestnut tree is in full bloom. It s covered with leaves and is even more beautiful than last year. 26 May 1944 I ve asked myself again and again whether it wouldn t have been better if we hadn t gone into hiding, if we were dead now and didn t have to go through this misery, especially so that the others could be spared the burden. But we all shrink from this thought. We still love life, we haven t yet forgotten the voice of nature, and we keep hoping, hoping for... everything. 13 June 1944 Many people think nature is beautiful, many people sleep from time to time under the starry sky, and many people in hospitals and prisons long for the day when they ll be free to enjoy what nature has to offer. But few are as isolated and cut off as we are from the joys of nature, which can be shared by rich and poor alike. 13 June 1944 It s not just my imagination looking at the sky, the clouds, the moon and the stars really does make me feel calm and hopeful. It s much better medicine than valerian or bromide. Nature makes me feel humble and ready to face every blow with courage! 23 February 1944 This morning, when I was sitting in front of the window and taking a long, deep look outside at God and nature, I was happy, just plain happy. 7

8 Poems and songs Along with quotes from Anne s diary you might want to include other readings and music during your ceremony. Students from local schools could read a poem or even play some music! Poet Laureate, Michael Rosen wrote the following poem for the first Anne Frank Tree Planting ceremony in 1998: We hope that anyone who knows of this tree will remember Anne Frank We hope that anyone who knows of this tree will remember how from her attic window Anne Frank watched a tree growing outside and was so moved and entranced She couldn't speak We hope that anyone who knows of this tree will remember how Anne Frank lost her life We hope that anyone who knows of this tree will never let such things happen again We hope that anyone who knows of this tree will have as much hope in their hearts and minds as Anne did. Music that you may like to play during the ceremony could be by artists such as Enya or classical pieces. Remember the tone of the ceremony will be reflective but also inspiring so choose accordingly! 8

9 Press Release To maximise the publicity for your Tree Planting ceremony, you might want to contact the local media, this could be newspapers and radio, telling them when and where the ceremony is and offering them a photograph opportunity. Below is a sample press release you may want to use, however we suggest you personalise the information to suit your local event and area as much as possible. Anne Frank Tree Planting ceremony [Name local organisers] will be planting a commemorative Anne Frank tree in [insert venue] on the [date, time]. The Anne Frank Trust UK are encouraging people across the country to plant trees in memory of Anne Frank. We invite you to join us at the tree planting ceremony along with [name any local VIPs if applicable, school or community groups involved] to plant and dedicate our [type of tree] to Anne Frank creating a focal point in our community for reflection and remembrance. By planting this Anne Frank tree we are commemorating the lives of the millions of children that have been lost in conflicts and war. This event is being supported locally by/hosted by [insert name of supporters/hosts]. The Chestnut tree behind the Secret Annexe in Amsterdam was one of Anne s only links to the outside world during the years spent in hiding but sadly this Chestnut tree is now diseased. The Anne Frank Trees planted throughout Britain will regenerate Anne s hopes for the future and ensure that her story is not forgotten. Her father, Otto Frank wrote If the end of the world would be imminent, I would still plant a tree today. If you would like any further information please contact [name and details of contact person]. The Anne Frank Trust UK are a partner organisation of the Anne Frank House, Amsterdam. / Registered charity no For further information on the Anne Frank Trust contact the team on or info@annefrank.org.uk. 9

10 Advice for Fundraising You can contact your local authority to apply for council funding. A directory of all councils can be found at: Alternatively, the Arts Council also offer funding. In order to be eligible for funding from them you will need to be able to demonstrate how you meet their assessment criteria. Further information on their criteria can be found in their How to apply booklet. This can be found along with the application form and their Other sources of funding information sheet. It can be downloaded from their website: 10

11 Tell Us About Your Tree The Anne Frank Trust have been running this Tree Planting Project since 1998 when Buddy Elias, Anne s first cousin and only surviving blood relative, joined us to dedicate trees in Anne s name. The first trees were planted outside the British Library and at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, where they still remain. Since then we have been approached by schools, councils and local community groups from all around the UK and Ireland wanting to plant their own Anne Frank Trees. These trees, planted in memory of Anne Frank serve as a reminder to us all of the millions of children killed needlessly because of wars and conflict. Buddy Elias and Jeremy Beadle at Tree Planting ceremony in Great Ormond Street Hospital Anne, despite living in hiding for over two years, took much comfort in the view outside from the attic and through the gaps in the windows in the floors below. The Chesnut Tree, birds singing and the nature that continued to live on while they were in hiding, helped her to believe in the good of humanity. The best remedy for those who are frightened, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere they can be alone, alone with the sky, nature and God. For then and only then can you feel that everything is as it should be and that God wants people to be happy amid nature s beauty and simplicity. As long as this exists, and that should be for ever, I know that there will be solace for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances. I firmly believe that nature can bring comfort to all who suffer. 23 February 1944 We would love to hear back from you about your tree planting ceremony. Send us your pictures to info@annefrank.org.uk Below you can see some examples of other trees which are still growing strong. Make sure you keep us updated on us your tree! Pictures from left to right: tree at Newham School, Portsmouth City Council, Students of school in Durham with the Mayor at the Tree Planting ceremony, Tree Brighton and Hove 11

12 About The Anne Frank Trust UK The Anne Frank Trust UK is the British partner organisation of the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. Our mission is to draw on the power of Anne Frank's life and diary to challenge prejudice and reduce hatred, encouraging people to embrace positive attitudes, responsibility and respect for others. -Public Exhibitions We have five travelling exhibitions, visited by thousands every year in towns and cities across Britain. -School and Community Projects We take our exhibitions and workshops to over 27,000 young people across the UK every year. -Work with Offenders Our educational projects for prisoners and young offenders reach over 3,000 individuals every year. -Awareness Raising Throughout the year we carry out activities to raise awareness of the modern day issues that relate to Anne Frank. These include: -The Anne Frank Declaration Launched in 1998, the Anne Frank Declaration has been signed by hundreds of thousands of individuals including former President of the United States Bill Clinton and former UN General Secretary Kofi Annan. - The Anne Frank Awards In its sixth year now, the Awards recognise young people and educators whose behaviour and actions echo the spirit of Anne Frank. 12