A TREE has been planted in a local woodland in the memory of a local doctor and advocate for unpaid carers who died earlier this year.
Soroptimist International Jersey shared the news online that a wild service tree had been planted by the loved ones of Dr Margaret Bayes MBE, who passed away in April.
The retired GP spent much of her life advocating for family carers as the founder and long-time chairperson of Carers Jersey, a partnership of charitable organisations and unpaid carers that campaigns for formal carers’ legislation.
The young sapling was planted in Adelina Wood in St Helier, with the assistance of environmental charity Trees for Life, which manages the public woodland.
Dr Bayes was made an MBE by the Queen in the New Year’s Honours List in 2013 for her work in founding and chairing the Jersey Association of Carers.
She was behind the three-year plan launched in 2022 for an estimated 5,000 unpaid carers of all ages in the island to get the appropriate legislation and have their voices heard.
Dr Bayes was also an advocate for disability charity Enable Jersey and long-running Soroptimist.
Posting on Facebook, a spokesperson for the local branch of the women’s advocacy organisation, said that the tree is in memory of “a special wife, mother, grandmother and dear friend”.
They added: “We are looking forward to revisiting Adelina Woods many times in the coming years to enjoy the trees, watch these two trees grow and change with the seasons and share memories.”
