Greenfingers Charity, the only UK charity that designs and builds gardens in children’s hospices, has designated much needed funds to extend and update the Remembrance Garden at Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People in the East Midlands.

Rainbows Hospice provides vital care and support to families impacted by life-limiting conditions and offers end of life care, symptom management, short breaks and respite care, as well as psychological and bereavement support, outreach and sibling support.  Sadly, the number of bereaved families that Rainbows supports continues to grow, and as such the Remembrance Garden needs to expand in order to provide much needed ongoing support for newly bereaved families.

The hospice’s Remembrance Garden is a very special and unique place where a lifetime of memories can be held.  It also provides families with a place to reflect and connect with the memories of their children, and as such, demands the deepest care and respect. 

Greenfingers Charity has commissioned VaRa Garden Design to re-design the Remembrance Garden, working within the brief set by hospice staff to create “a garden which will reflect the beauty of each child whose memory is held in this space.”

Linda Petrons, Director of Fundraising & Communications at Greenfingers Charity, said: “The team at VaRa Garden Design have sensitively created a plan which will ensure that the existing beauty of the garden can be extended. The new design includes additional seating areas for places of quiet reflection, complemented by year-round planting.  New trees will provide additional privacy, whilst a new water feature will add a sense of calm.  New pathways will help visitors journey around the space.”

A local metal company, Caltef Designs, will be designing and installing a bespoke memorial tree where newly bereaved families will be offered the opportunity to attach a personalised glass memorial leaf.  This stunning tree will provide a beautiful focal point in the centre of the garden, providing an ongoing heart to this special place.

Rainbows’  Psychological and Bereavement Lead, David Hamilton, works with families that have already lost a child, and has offered reassurance that existing plaques will not be moved, and all work will be done so respectfully.

The project is currently out to tender and will be built in spring 2020 thanks to support from many friends of Greenfingers Charity.