News Maidstone Crematorium new Garden of Remembrance – helping children and families with bereavement
A new Garden of Remembrance dedicated to children and families was officially opened today by Maidstone Mayor, Cllr Marion Ring at the Vinters Park Crematorium.
The garden - designed by the Maidstone Borough Council Grounds Maintenance Team, is known as Blossom Valley and is described as a baby and children’s area. Created in the grounds of Vinters Park Crematorium it is hoped it will provide somewhere families can remember their loved ones while offering them a special place where they can express their thoughts and feelings.
Commenting on the opening of the Garden of Remembrance, Cllr Ring said:
“A death of a loved one can be devastating for all of us as we come to terms with our loss and coping with grief. For a child it must be so much harder as they try and understand what has actually happened to the person they love.“Everybody needs a place to grieve and I am absolutely delighted to have been invited to open this beautiful Remembrance Garden for children and families in Maidstone today.”
Set in eleven acres of beautifully landscaped gardens which include a Chapel Lawn, and Woodside Glade, the Vinters Park Crematorium in Maidstone provides a tranquil and peaceful place to stop, reflect and remember a loved on.
The new specially designed garden is based on the ‘Dear Mum – Helping children come to terms with bereavement’ guide and includes a selection of hand-carved granite characters and memorials that allow an area of reflection to be created in the grounds. The unique owl post box allows children and their families to post letters to people they’ve lost and helps provide an outlet for their feelings.
Maidstone Borough Council, Bereavement Services Manager – Sharon Smith said:
“We hope this new infant and children section will offer some comfort to bereaved families who visit us at the Vinters Park Crematorium. We equally hope that the post box will be used to for those that would like to express their grief privately or by children to send messages to their loved ones.”
