The Survivor Tree: Planting Ginkgo in Cornwall

From the ashes of the Hiroshima bombing has come an uplifting story, the branches of which have reached us in Cornwall. In the aftermath of the Hiroshima atomic bombing on 6th August 1945, it was feared that the hypocentre and surrounding areas would remain lifeless for generations. 

The original Ginkgo tree, standing just 1,370 metres from the hypocentre, was so badly burned and damaged that it was believed it could never recover. Yet in the spring of 1946, despite its charred trunk, the tree began to bud. Local residents gathered in disbelief as new growth emerged - a powerful symbol of resilience, regeneration, and hope at a time when the city was still reeling from unimaginable devastation. Since then, the Ginkgo has become a global emblem of peace, honoured in Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and communities around the world. Its survival story embodies the hope that renewal is possible even after the darkest of moments. 

Mayors for Peace

For many, the sharing of Ginkgo seeds carries deep cultural meaning: a gesture of friendship, remembrance, and the enduring strength of nature. Manchester became the first city in the UK to receive these revered seeds, and Manchester City Council worked with Dunham Massey, National Trust, to nurture them into young trees at this estate. The global project has also reached Cornwall: Cornwall Council joined the Mayors of Peace, an NGO with 8,000 members from 165 countries, developing education programmes and looking at ways to support more peaceful communities to help deal with issues like terrorism, refugees and climate change. Sam Nicholls and the CORMAC parks and garden team have nurtured six ginkgo saplings at greenhouses at Penmount Crematorium.