Trees of Tranquillity in Oban and Inverness

Anam Cara Fasgadh is honoured to take ownership of the Trees of Tranquillity in Inverness and Oban, continuing the legacy of remembrance and support for families bereaved through the loss of a baby, child, or young person. These beautiful, hand-crafted, life-sized steel sculptures—each adorned with delicate copper leaves, inscribed with the names of children gone too soon—serve as profound symbols of love, memory, and connection.

Originally installed by SiMBA charity, the Inverness Tree of Tranquillity was unveiled in 2012 at the Inverness Botanic Gardens, followed by the Oban Tree in 2016, nestled within the historic grounds of Dunollie Museum, Castle & Grounds. These Trees have since become cherished places of remembrance for grieving families, offering a sanctuary where love endures and memories are honoured.

For Anam Cara Fasgadh’s founder, Susan Simpson, this transition holds deep personal significance. In her former role as Highland Ambassador for SiMBA, she was instrumental in bringing the Trees of Tranquillity to these locations, ensuring bereaved families in the Highlands and Argyll had a dedicated space to reflect, grieve, and heal. Now, with Anam Cara Fasgadh entrusted with their care, it feels like a full-circle moment—one of continued dedication to supporting those who need it most.

Creating Spaces of Peace and Remembrance

Anam Cara Fasgadh is committed to preserving and enhancing the gardens surrounding the Trees of Tranquillity in both locations. In partnership with Inverness Botanic Gardens and Dunollie Museum, Castle & Grounds, we are working to maintain and develop these spaces, ensuring they remain tranquil, beautiful, and welcoming for families who visit.

We are also collaborating with schools, businesses, and local organisations to care for these special gardens, involving young people and community members in meaningful projects that foster remembrance, connection, and support for bereaved families.

Ordering a Leaf for the Trees

Please complete the form below to order a leaf for the Tree of your choosing. If you have lost more than one child, please fill in a separate form for each child.

Our local engraver will complete the engraving and we will send you a photo once it has been added to the Tree.

If you have any questions, please email Irene on info@anamcarafasgadh.org.

The Trees of Tranquillity: A Legacy of Love and Remembrance

Anam Cara Fasgadh is a Scottish charity providing respite accommodation and support to families grieving the death of a baby, child, or young person. Founded in 2018, Our mission is to support families who have endured the unimaginable death of a baby, child, or young person by offering them opportunities to create enduring memories. The charity offers bereavement breaks, emotional support, memorial events, and connections to other services, helping families process their grief. Bereavement breaks are gifted at Poppy’s Place on Tralee Bay Holiday Park in Argyll, providing a peaceful retreat which allows families to step away from daily pressures and focus on healing.

Anam Cara Fasgadh is deeply honoured to take custodianship of the Memorial Trees of Tranquillity in Oban and Inverness from Simba, a national charity who has been supporting bereaved families since 2005 through the provision of beautiful ‘made with love’ Memory Boxes to ensure memory making experiences exist for every family in Scotland bereaved through the death of a baby. These beautifully sculpted metal Trees stand as powerful symbols of remembrance, providing bereaved families with a place to honour and reflect on the lives of their babies and children gone too soon.

Anam Cara Fasgadh Director, Susan Simpson, has been personally invested in these Trees since their creation ~ helping to establish the Inverness Tree of Tranquillity in 2012 and the Oban Tree in 2016 when she volunteered as Highland Ambassador for Simba. She, her husband Andrew, and children Charis and Noah dedicated countless hours of love, effort, and advocacy to bring these memorials to life, ensuring that bereaved families had a tangible place to acknowledge and honour their children, where they experience solace and connection. For many, placing a copper leaf with their child’s name on the Tree is the only formal recognition their child ever receives.

As Anam Cara Fasgadh takes on the custodianship of these sacred spaces, we do so with the deepest respect and commitment to their ongoing care. In partnership with Dunollie Museum, Castle & Grounds in Oban and Inverness Botanic Gardens, we will ensure that these gardens remain places of comfort, solace, and reflection for all who visit. We are honoured to continue the work of Simba in ensuring that every single family feels supported and cherished as they navigate their journey through grief.

Our vision is to involve bereaved families, school groups, and the wider community in shaping the future of these gardens. Their voices, experiences, and hopes will guide us as we develop, maintain, and enhance these spaces ~ ensuring they continue to provide peace, healing, and remembrance for generations to come.

For more information contact Irene on info@anamcarafasadh.org.