Manchester’s Hiroshima seeds ‘Project Ginkgo’ launch

Manchester formally launched Project Ginkgo, a major schools art project, after the receipt of ginkgo tree seeds sent by the Mayors for Peace Secretariat in Hiroshima, at a special event on the 5th November. This date is the 34th anniversary of Manchester’s ‘nuclear weapons free’ declaration. The seeds, which originate from second generation atomic bomb affected trees in Hiroshima, are now growing well at Hulme Community Garden Centre in the south of Manchester. The event on November 5th was opened by the Lord Mayor of Manchester, who officially launched Project Ginkgo, a competition for Manchester schools to develop art posters around the issues of the atomic bombings, the renewal of Hiroshima and the need for peace. The five winning schools will then ‘adopt’ a tree, nurture it and see it planted in their school grounds. A number of other trees will also be planted at specially selected sites in Manchester city centre, linking in to the Manchester Peace Trail.

Lord Mayor of Manchester Councillor Susan Cooley said:
“To receive these seedlings from trees that survived the atomic bomb is truly breathtaking, they serve as both a pertinent symbol of hope and a reminder that we stand proud, with our fellow Mayors for Peace cities, in the call for nuclear disarmament.”

“I hope that local children are inspired by these symbolic ginkgoes and look forward to seeing their art work next year. Involving young people with the Mayors for Peace programme is vital in making sure the next generation do not forget the immense destruction nuclear weapons can cause and do not repeat the mistakes of the past.”

Lord Mayor of Manchester Councillor Susan Cooley with the ginkgo seedlings
(Photo credit: Manchester City Council)

The Hiroshima ginkgo seedlings in their Manchester pots
(Photo credit: Manchester City Council)