Brooke Wiggins was just 12 years old.

She should still be here.

On 9 November 2024, Brooke was killed in a tragic and devastating incident in Grove Place, Banstead, Surrey, when a large tree branch fell on her while she was using a rope swing in a publicly accessible area. Despite the attendance of emergency services, Brooke died at the scene.

Brooke was a bright, much-loved child with her whole life ahead of her. Her death has shattered her family and deeply affected the local community. No family should ever have to endure such a loss — especially in a place that should have been safe.

We understand that the tree involved had been previously inspected, that safety concerns were identified, and that remedial works were scheduled but not completed within the required timeframe. These issues are now the subject of a coroner’s inquest, scheduled for April 2026.

This petition is not about pre-empting the inquest or assigning blame before all the facts are heard.

It is about asking why known risks in public spaces are allowed to remain unaddressed — and demanding that this changes.

Public spaces belong to all of us. Children should be able to play safely without their families fearing that preventable dangers have been ignored.

Trees bring beauty and benefit to our communities — but where risks are identified, action must follow. When safety works are delayed, missed, or deprioritised, the consequences can be catastrophic.

Brooke’s family is speaking out because silence allows this to happen again.

We are calling on decision-makers to treat public safety with the seriousness it deserves — not after another tragedy, but now. Brooke’s death must lead to learning, accountability, and meaningful reform, so that no other child’s life is cut short in the same way.

We call for:

1.A clear review of tree inspection and maintenance policies in publicly accessible areas, particularly where risks have been identified

2.Greater accountability and transparency when safety works are scheduled but not completed

3.Improved monitoring and enforcement of safety deadlines relating to public land

4.A commitment that lessons learned from Brooke’s death and the forthcoming inquest will be acted upon, not ignored

5.A focus on preventing future tragedies, so that no other child or family suffers a similar loss

Please stand with us.

Please help ensure Brooke’s death leads to change.