Work begins on garden for ashes scandal babies
BY LUCINDA CAMERON WORK has started on a memorial garden for families affected by a baby ashes scandal.
The site is being created after an investigation in 2016 uncovered years of “unethical and abhorrent practices” at Aberdeen’s Hazlehead crematorium.
In some cases, infants’ coffins were placed at the side of or on top of an unrelated adult’s coffin and they were cremated together.
The council have apologised for past practices at the crematorium.
The memorial garden is being created in nearby Hazlehead Park.
It will feature an arched entrance, several seated areas and a circular lawned area with a sculpture in the middle.
The 4ft 7in high bronze artwork by Maja Quille features flying birds.
Relatives can also have the names of those affected inscribed on metal plates in the garden, if they wish.
The work is being carried out by local firm MTM Construction and should be completed this spring, depending on the weather.
The firm’s construction director Roddy Mitchell said: “We feel privileged to carry out the work on the garden as we know how much it will mean to the people affected.
“Our aim is to get the garden finished as soon as possible to the highest standard.”
The garden has been designed by TGP Landscape Architects.
They said it will evoke feelings such as peace, reflectiveness, sorrow, remembrance, looking forward, hope, love and reconciliation.