A memorial tree for bereaved parents is to be installed in the Crichton gardens in Dumfries.
The Tree of Tranquillity is down to Dumfries couple Lauren and Chris Brydson, who have lost five children and wanted to “create a positive out of something negative”.
They set up D&G Baby Loss Awareness Tree Group with Jill Cameron, Karen Little, Becky Little, Lindsay Temlett, Nicole Clark, Rachael Brown, Louise Copeland and Claire Burgess.
With help from family and friends and a number of fundraising events, they smashed their initial £18,000 target, raising £27,289.
This week they announced that the tree is in production along with the individual leaves dedicated to each little life lost.
The group have chosen the beautiful Crichton gardens and Gwilym Gibbons, chief executive of The Crichton Trust, said: “We are humbled that the grounds have been chosen as a home for a Tree of Tranquillity and all the loved and lost lives it will represent.
“We believe the surroundings of The Crichton will through the seasons provide a beautiful backdrop to such a very special tree.”
Lauren and Chris said: “Thank you to everyone who helped make this possible. It’s been an amazing journey.”
It started when the couple received a memory box from the baby loss charity Simba in 2017 after they lost their daughter Taylor when the lived in Livingston.
Lauren said: “We have unfortunately suffered five losses, one being our son Robbie, who was born prematurely in March last year and lived for just six hours. After we lost Robbie I felt determined to have a place in Dumfries for families to go.”
She established fundraising committee in March last year.
“The committee just almost happened over night,”she said.
“From suggesting the idea of fundraising for a tree, family and friends just got on board, sharing the same enthusiasm as I did.
“I think the idea of the Tree of Tranquillity is beautiful and so important for families. The tree will give families a place to go to remember their baby, especially for those who had earlier losses and didn’t have the opportunity for a funeral.
“It will also be a stunning and powerful way to show the love we all have for our precious babies and it will bring people together.”
Lynsi Mills, who fundraised for this project following the loss of her son Harison, said: “The tree will mean so much to me.
Leaves for the Dumfries Tree of Tranquillity can be requested through www.simbacharity.org.uk.
