The ‘Forget Me Not’ garden at Hazlehead Crematorium, Aberdeen has opened to the public. The Garden has been created particularly for people affected by pregnancy loss, but all are welcome to use it as a place of remembrance and reflection. 

It has been funded by Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeen Sands, and MISS (Miscarriage Support Scotland), and created by Gerbera Designs. 

"I hope the Forget Me Not Garden will offer bereaved parents and other family members, a peaceful and welcoming space where they can spend quiet time thinking of their much-loved babies. A community memorial garden can be especially important for anyone bereaved who is not able to visit a grave or other special place, particularly those who have experienced a miscarriage or other type of earlier loss.

"Being in nature can be of great benefit to anyone who is grieving, and the design of the garden has been informed by the wishes of Aberdeen Sands volunteers and the local families we support. I am very grateful to Aberdeen City Council and all our partners in helping the garden to grow from an idea into the wonderful place it is for anyone who wishes to visit and spend time there."

- Fiona Donald, Chair of Aberdeen Sands.

Aberdeen Sands is part of Sands’ UK-wide network of over 90 local support Groups, usually run by bereaved parents and family members, offering anyone affected by pregnancy loss or the death of a baby to meet others, gain support and share their experience.

This tranquil garden was designed with a central memorial stone surrounded by benches featuring beautiful inscriptions created by MISS Support Coordinator Hope Cawood. 

“About 3 years ago, I had an idea to create a private and relaxing garden where anyone affected by early pregnancy loss could visit, grieve and be at peace. At MISS, we spoke with Aberdeen City Council initially to see if there was a space available and this is where we came across a complete blank canvas with a tree, green grass and a wall! 

"This was the beginning of our garden project, soon after we continued our relationship and working with other organisations including Aberdeen Sands and Gerbera Designs, where we have been working closely together to create a memorial garden with unique features for parents to visit and be amongst nature. We hope that with this garden you can feel supported within the wildlife, plants and safe private space."

- Abi Clarke, Chief Executive Officer of MISS Miscarriage Support.

The garden features peaceful pathways and a "beehive post-box" where letters can be written and posted to loved ones on wildflower-seeded paper. The letters will be collected and mulched periodically to help the seeds germinate in the wildflower area of the garden. Additionally, a large tree within the garden will be illuminated for Baby Loss Awareness Week. 

Aberdeen Sands had previously created a dedicated Sands Garden at the end of the road to the crematorium, called Hazlehead Baby Garden. The volunteers have moved a memorial stone from the Baby Garden, and a bench donated by bereaved parents in Shetland that was already close by to the garden, to the new Forget Me Not Garden.