A new garden for quiet reflection for parents affected by the city’s baby ashes scandal was unveiled in an Aberdeen park yesterday.
Hazlehead crematorium made the headlines for all the wrong reasons in 2013 after it emerged baby and adult ashes were routinely mixed together.
Some parents had also been been told there were no ashes and remains were not returned to grieving families.
An audit by Aberdeen City Council found the ashes of up to 40 babies may have been scattered in Hazlehead’s Garden of Remembrance without families being consulted.
Council chiefs have since been in talks with the families to create a permanent memorial and it was yesterday unveiled at Hazlehead Park.
The space has been named the Rainbow Garden, drawing inspiration from the song Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
It has been designed by a working group including families and bereavement counsellors and sits within a secluded part of the park.
Features include an arches entrance, seating, a circular grassy area and a central bronze sculpture which features flying birds.
A more private area where families affected can sit, and also have the names of those affected permanently inscribed on plaques if they wish, has also been included.
A spokesperson for the Working Group said: “We hope parents and other people affected will find the space to be a nice quiet place for contemplation and remembering.”
Maja Quille was chosen as the artist for the bronze sculpture and her flowing design of flying birds enclosing a seat was chosen from a shortlist of four after 20 people submitted proposals for the sculpture.
She said: “It has probably been the hardest project I have ever worked on.
“As a parent myself, I can understand that there must be nothing in the world worse than losing a child.
“The project really affected me on a personal and emotional level.”
John Birrell, from Cruise Bereavement Scotland, worked with the families on the design of the gardens.
He said: “When we first started this process there was a lot of anger about what had happened and while that remains as what happened has happened, there has been movement and growth.
“I’m sure everyone will be delighted with the end result.”
Last night bereaved parents were given a special tour of the new garden.
