Lady Emma Barnard, Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex, planted a Red Oak tree at Duckyls Farm Centre to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

The tree planting took place at the heart of Duckyls Farm, our 100-acre residential care home. Residents, service users and staff gathered to honour the occasion and reflect on the enduring legacy of peace and resilience that VE Day represents. Victory in Europe (VE) Day, celebrated on May 8, marks the formal end of the Second World War in Europe in 1945, when Allied forces accepted the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany.

As well as the residential care home, Duckyls Farm is home to our day service hub and outreach provision supporting people with learning disabilities, physical and sensory impairments, acquired brain injuries, and/or autism across Sussex. The farm enables individuals to engage with nature and animals in meaningful, therapeutic ways that support personal development and wellbeing.

Adults attending our Day Service were delighted to present the Lord-Lieutenant with a handmade bird box, created during their woodwork sessions.

David McGuire, chief executive of Diagrama Foundation, said: "It was an honour to welcome Lady Emma Barnard to Duckyls Farm for such a meaningful occasion. "The commemorative Red Oak stands as a lasting symbol of gratitude and remembrance. It was a pleasure to share the unique atmosphere of life on the farm and for His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant to meet some of the incredible individuals we support every day."

Image: Alexander Brattell