Bereaved parents in a north-east town have been offered a unique opportunity to remember their children.
Toadstool memorials have been installed at Aden Country Park and Balmoor Cemetery in Peterhead to allow families to commemorate their children who have died.
Alicia Powell, who works with the charity Sands [Stillborn and Neonatal Deaths Society] said: “We decided to use some of our donations to add to our garden at Aden Country Park in Mintlaw.
“We came across the toadstools with plaques of remembrance for babies’ names to be inscribed on and thought it was a lovely idea.”
“[Local councillor]Diane Beagrie approached us about having a similar area in Peterhead and we thought this was a great idea to expand our remembrance areas and allow people who are unable to get to Mintlaw to have a place they can visit.
“Many thanks for all the donations which Banff and Buchan Sands has received over the year and which has made this possible.”
The initial idea to establish a memorial garden in Peterhead came from Karen Brown, whose daughter Sinead McKenzie has lost three babies.
Mrs Brown said: “It can be really difficult at this time of year and I think it’s important that people have somewhere they can go to remember.”
Her daughter added: “It doesn’t matter how old they were, because every baby should be remembered, they were still part of this world.”
Mrs Beagrie said: “I am delighted to have been involved in the setting up of the Sands garden at Peterhead Balmoor Cemetry.
“When Karen Brown approached me, I made contact with Sands and they immediately started supporting this venture.”
“The area has a stunning granite seat, a rose garden and a new addition of granite toadstools with the names of Peterhead Babies who are no longer with us engraved on plaques in a celebration of remembrance.
“The garden is a place for parents to visit and have some time to sit and reflect.”
Ms Powell said: “This project has been a huge success with lots of people coming forward and a few more toadstools are to be installed in the New Year and then it will be completed.”
