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Johnsons plants help Baby Rainbow Memorial Garden bloom

28 Mar 2022 | BALI Member News

100-year-old commercial nursery Johnsons of Whixley have donated a number of plants to help create a Baby Memorial Garden in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire.

The Baby Memorial Garden was thought of by parents Andrew and Donna Clifford who tragically lost their baby son, Rory when he was just nine days old in 2019 from sudden infant death syndrome.

The garden is located in Scunthorpe’s Central Park and will be planted with as much colour as possible to celebrate Rory’s life. Plants donated to the project have included shrubs, trees, hedging, herbaceous and bulbs.

The rainbow garden will provide a space for parents and families to remember, reflect and commemorate Rory’s and other children's lives that have been lost before, during or after pregnancy in a beautiful, quiet but colourful space.

Rory’s father Andrew Clifford said:

“Rainbows have been incredibly significant to us since Rory's passing. It rained for many days after he died and we included lots of rainbows at his funeral because we wanted to celebrate his short life with lots of colours. If a rainbow ever comes out, we tell our children that Rory is here with us and in our hearts, and we think that is true for every family who has lost a baby. Rainbows have continued to play a significant part in our own grieving process, and that is why they have such a profound meaning in this project.”

Johnsons are just one of the 16 supporters of the Memorial Garden with Hedges Direct, Silica Lodge Garden Centre, SC4, EC Surfacing Ltd, Direct Plants, North Lindsey College, North Lincolnshire Council, Trees Direct, Decorative aggregates and Axholme Turf & Topsoil all offering support and donations.

Discussing the donation, Johnsons of Whixley’s Marketing Manager, Eleanor Richardson added:

“We look forward to seeing the garden come together in the following months ahead and hope the garden can provide an area where Rory’s parents and other families can reflect and remember the lives of babies tragically taken from us too soon.”

If you would like to donate, volunteer or fundraise for the memorial garden visit the Baby Rainbow Memorial Gardens website for more information.

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