Hospice creates a place of peace (From Durham Times)
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Hospice creates a place of peace
3:07pm Friday 2nd July 2010 in News
GARDEN OF MEMORIES: Emily Rosselli, from St Cuthbert's Hospice, in the new garden at the hospice
A MEMORIAL garden where people can remember loved ones who have died has been created at a local hospice.
The haven, where people can go to reflect and ponder in tranquillity, has been created in the grounds of St Cuthbert’s Hospice at Merryoaks.
It was paid for by a donation from an individual who wishes to stay anonymous and it will be officially opened at the Picnic in the Park event the hospice will hold next month.
Previously just a patch of grass, the In Memory Garden has a stream, a circular path and a variety of plants and trees.
People can also have a pebble engraved with the name of a loved one who has died and place it in the stream in return for a donation to the hospice.
Hospice spokeswoman Emily Rosselli said: “It is looking really nice, it is a real haven of peace.
“Brambledown Landscape did it and a lot of volunteers did a lot of the work. There was a patch of grass that wasn’t being used and it has been developed.
Ken Allday, of Newton Hall, was the first to have two pebbles engraved, in memory of his wife, Joan, who died at Christmas of cancer.
Mr Allday said: “Joan came to St Cuthbert’s Hospice and she overwhelmed by how lovely it was.
“She absolutely loved it – the grounds, the people, even the squirrels which she would watch from her veranda.
“She decided that she wasn’t going to come home to die – ‘this is heaven to me’, she said.”
“My wife was at peace when she died and she never felt any pain, thanks to the hospice. I’ll always be grateful for that and I will support St Cuthbert’s Hospice forever.
“The In Memory Garden and Joan’s pebbles, mean the world to me. The knowledge that the pebbles will be here forever is a comfort.
“My son and grandchildren can even visit the garden when they are over from Australia.’’ The garden will be officially opened by the Dean of Durham, the Very Michael Sadgrove, during Picnic in the Park on Saturday July 17.
To find out more about the garden, call Lucy Baxter on 0191-386 1170 or email lucy.baxter@ stcuthbertshospice.com.
