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National Landscapes partner with Channel 5’s the Yorkshire Vet on pet bereavement campaign

Helen Gamble Two people are sitting on a memorial bench admiring a view across lush green landscape. Someone else is standing close by, wearing a red jacket. A woman on a white horse is passing by, behind them.

The benches are all situated in publicly accessible places for quiet contemplation. 

Eight National Landscape teams are working with Peter Wright and the team at Channel 5’s ‘The Yorkshire Vet’ to host new pet memorial benches. 

The UK is a nation of animal lovers, and many of us count dogs, cats, hamsters and horses (and many other furry, feathered or finned friends) as part of the family; however, the impact of the loss of a pet is often underestimated.

Helen Gamble A memorial bench in a field is being admired by a herd of white cattle. Two of the cows are right behind the bench. One of them seems to be sniffing it, the other is looking at the view. A number of other cows are standing in the background. The land rises a little behind the bench, all grassy, with a blue sky at the horizon in the middle distance.

The neighbours have welcomed the memorial bench in the Lincolnshire Wolds National Landscape. 

Channel 5’s Yorkshire Vet, Peter Wright, recently opened a pet memorial garden close to his surgery in Thirsk, North Yorkshire. Wanting to find a way for people across the country to be able to mark their own pet bereavements, he approached National Landscapes teams to ask if they would install memorial benches in some of the UK’s most iconic and beloved places.  

Now eight National Landscapes across England are hosting a bench that anyone can visit for quiet contemplation in memory of their lost pet.

Peter Wright, Channel 5’s The Yorkshire Vet said:

“Pet bereavement is a very real issue which is often downplayed. I’m delighted that the National Landscapes have got involved with my campaign to recognise the grief we feel when we lose a pet. I hope that people will enjoy visiting the new benches, taking solace in the beautiful surroundings of National Landscapes at a time of loss.”

Alex Dinsdale A family sit on a memorial bench, Dad, daughter and son with a little dog. They are wearing hiking boots. The dog is white with a light brown head. Dad has his arms round the shoulders of the children either side of him and all are smiling.

The memorial bench in Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths is already a popular stop off point for walkers. 

You can find the benches at: 

Cranborne Chase National Landscape:
Ansty ///acted.ends.polices
Another bench to be installed soon on the route of one of the Coronation Walks near the village of Tarrant Gunville.

Dedham Vale National Landscape:
Cattawade Picnic Site ///purist.smarting.trout

High Weald National Landscape: 
Burwash Common ///headsets.digit.openly (to be installed soon)

Howardian Hills National Landscape: 
Castle Howard estate

Lincolnshire Wolds National Landscape: 
Caistor ///supposes.admiral.flops

North Pennines National Landscape:
Bowlees Visitor Centre ///quietly.weds.crows

North Wessex Downs National Landscape:
Two benches in the Buckleberry Estate.

Suffolk & Essex Coast &Heaths: 
Southwold ///varieties.plotter.blueberry

Alex Dinsdale Three men install a memorial bench. They are digging a deep hole in the floor. One of the men is wear an orange hi viz tabard and is kneeling on the floor. There are a variety of tools around them. The bench is in the background, it has very, very long legs which will be put into the deep hole and then cemented in place.

Local volunteers in Dedham Vale National Landscape installing the new memorial bench. 

Lucy Bowyer A memorial bench on a pallet. It has very, very long legs which will be sunk into the ground on installation. A man leans on the bench. He is middle aged with a black hoodie and trousers and a navy baseball cap. He looks happy.

The bench in High Weald National Landscape will be installed soon. 

14 August 2026
News Wellbeing & Recreation Empower people to have a stake in beauty Cranborne Chase Dedham Vale High Weald Howardian Hills Lincolnshire Wolds North Pennines North Wessex Downs Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths