A BEREAVED mother is on the lookout for a piece of land she can turn into a lasting natural memorial as she prepares to mark the fifth anniversary of her son’s death.

Martine Knight, from Helston, lost her son David Hawke-Treneer in April 2013, when he was only 37 years old.

At the time of his death the family was able to plant a memory tree in some woodland near to where he died, on the Lizard Peninsula, with Mrs Knight saying: “We wanted to do so as David loved the countryside and didn't like man-made monuments.”

David’s daughter, Amelia, helped plant it and Mrs Knight said that despite since moving to Kent, her granddaughter had followed the growth of the tree with interest.

However, the landowner has since had to make some changes over access to the area and as a result the family is no longer able to reach the tree.

“Whilst I understand their reasons, this has been very upsetting to us all,” said Mrs Knight.

“We were offered the chance to plant a tree on someone else's land, but we all felt that it would put us at risk of the same happening again.

“With the fifth anniversary of David's death approaching on April 11 we thought about how we can be sure of doing something without being in that position again, and I think the only real answer is for me to find a small area of land which we would turn into a mini-woodland/place of tranquillity in his memory.”

Despite asking around all the local estate agents and anyone else she can think of, what is being offered is either a building plot or too many acres, which she neither wants nor can afford.

Having exhausted all other avenues, she is now appealing to anyone who might have a small piece of land they might consider selling her to get in contact.

“I'm only after something like a quarter of an acre maybe, within reasonable distance of Helston. As long as I can get a car into it, so that less mobile members of the family can visit it, I'd be happy and could leave it to Amelia so it was always protected.

“Whilst out walking I often see little areas of what we used to call meadows or market gardens, which have become overgrown, but without knowing who owns them I can do nothing,” added Mrs Knight.

Anyone who can help can get in touch by calling Mrs Knight on 01326 564710.