Works underway on new baby memorial garden for families who have lost loved ones in Thatcham

Work has now started on a new baby memorial garden at London Road Cemetery in Thatcham.

Thatcham Town Council has confirmed that work is under way on its much-anticipated baby memorial garden, which it hopes will give families who have lost children a space for quiet reflection.

This project was made possible through an online fundraiser, which raised more than £22,000, and support from groups such as the Greenham Trust, The Forget Me Not Fund and Sands West Berkshire.

The design includes a memorial bay to the left of the current allocated ‘baby section’ space and a memorial garden to the right.

They will include wooden benches, sympathetic planting and a statue in the garden for plaques to be added.

Each area will be enclosed by laurel hedging.

The idea for the garden started after stillbirth and neonatal death charity West Berkshire Sands Group approached the council in 2017 on behalf of local parents who, at that time, did not have a dedicated area to mourn their lost children.

The charity unfortunately closed soon after, but the town council has continued the project for those who have generously donated.

Construction is expected to be completed by the end of March.