In 1968, John Lennon and Yoko Ono planted two acorns for peace in the Cathedral grounds. They symbolized the meeting of John and Yoko and the union of their two cultures. Planting these acorns was the first of many peace events that they would initiate throughout their lives.

Perhaps their most famous acts were spending week-long “Bed-ins for Peace”. These events were intended to be nonviolent protests against wars and experimental tests of new ways to promote peace.

Knowing their marriage in 1969 would be a huge press event, John and Yoko decided to use the publicity to promote world peace. They spent their honeymoon week in the presidential suite at the Hilton Hotel in Amsterdam. They allowed unlimited access and gave endless interviews. Later that year they recorded the legendary pacifist anthem “Give Peace A Chance” during their Bed-In for Peace in Queen Elizabeth Hotel, Montreal.

Regarding the original acorns, unfortunately neither of them survived. John was assassinated in 1980. Yoko visited Coventry again in October 2005 to open the city’s peace festival and planted the two Japanese oak trees you now see in St Michael’s Avenue.