Saying goodbye to friends, relatives and loved ones is always difficult but the pandemic, when the number of people allowed to attend funerals was strictly limited, made it even tougher.

To help people through the grieving process and provide a tranquil place for people to remember and reflect, a new wildflower garden is being established at Northern Cemetery.

The first seeds in the ‘Forget-You-Not' garden will be planted following two special Covid-memorial services to be held in the Wennalt Chapel at Thornhill Cemetery at 6.30pm on Wednesday 21^stSeptember and Wednesday 26^thOctober 2022.

The ‘Forget-You-Not' garden will develop over time as friends and family collect specially designed envelopes containing wildflower seeds from the Bereavement Services team. People can then write their thoughts, or a message to their loved one, on the envelope.

The seed envelopes can then be posted into a special post-box, made from recycled materials, from where they will be collected and planted - ready to grow into a colourful, nature-filled garden.

Cabinet Member with responsibility for Bereavement Services, Cllr Dan De'Ath, said: "These special Covid memorial services are a really important opportunity, for anyone who lost somebody close during the pandemic, to remember and reflect. Over time, the messages they write, and the wildflower seeds planted, will blossom into a real haven, not just for nature, but for anybody looking for a tranquil place to remember their loved ones."