Aylesbury Vale COVID-19 Memorial Garden Design Unveiled

Westerleigh Group announced last month its intention to create a memorial garden at each of its 34 sites across the country, including the Aylesbury Vale facility.

Heather Dyson, site manager, said: “The new garden will be a tranquil place for people to visit and remember loved ones who died during the pandemic, and to pay tribute to those who sacrificed so much to help others who were sick, isolated or vulnerable.

“The centre-piece of each garden will be a stone monument surrounded by a floral arrangement representing a rainbow, which has become a symbol of hope during the pandemic.

“Many people have put pictures of rainbows in their windows during the lockdown, to cheer up passers- by and to offer a bright message of hope.

“Our rainbows will be created using the vibrant colours of Begonias, Petunias and Geraniums.”

The stone at the centre of the memorial garden will be made from all-polished black granite and is a typical traditional memorial for remembrance but with a Westerleigh change of design.

The memorials will be individually carved by highly-skilled stonemasons.

Work is expected to begin on the stone memorials in the Autumn with garden landscaping taking place in early Spring 2021.

Heather and her team at Aylesbury Vale Crematorium are now looking to identify the best location within the grounds for the garden, which is expected to open mid-to-late Spring 2021.

She added: “We are proud that our crematorium enjoys close links with our local community, and we therefore thought it would be an appropriate gesture to create these permanent and lasting memorials.

“It will be a special place where people can remember and reflect on the loved ones they have lost, and give thanks to the wonderful way that the NHS, key workers and whole communities pulled together during this unprecedented crisis.

“As this project progresses, we will be reaching out to the local community to help shape and finalise our plans.”