TAUNTON Deane Borough Council has held a tree planting ceremony at Wellington Park in memory of its late head gardener Mark Norman.

Mark, who trained at Cannington College, was head gardener at the Edwardian park for 15 years and the council’s head gardener for 23 years.

Members of the Friends of Wellington Park and Wellington in Bloom were among those who attended the tree planting (pictured above).

The tree was a wedding cake tree Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’, a native of China and a favourite of Mark’s. Layered branches take shape from an early age characterised by striking white to yellow foliage in early summer, of otherwise green leaves. It will grow to 25 feet given care in the town’s sheltered park.

Terry Milton, who knew Mark, said: “He had a passion for working in Wellington at the park and the Basins.

“He was very highly respected and a dedicated gardener, and he got on well with all the volunteers at the Basins.”