Work in a much-loved community garden has officially started on a poignant tribute to the hundreds of Renfrewshire people who lost their lives to Covid-19.
Volunteers at Erskine Community Garden have now broken ground on the space, which they hope will become a place where people who have tragically lost someone to the virus can reflect.
It's hoped the memorial - which will be the first of its kind in Renfrewshire - will be completed within the next few weeks.
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The ambitious plans include a Rowan tree and memorial bench with a surrounding rock garden where families can write the name of their loved one on pebbles.
Renfrewshire has been devastated by covid, with 527 people passing away since March last year.
Volunteer Heather Clissett, who drew up the plans for the space, is delighted to have finally began the work to create the memorial.
Alongside other volunteers, she wanted to create the space due to the impact covid has had in Renfrewshire, having previously told the Express it will be a time people will "never forget".
She said: "We are really glad to have finally been able to start the work, although the recent rain did halt our plans over the last few days.
"But we're getting on with it again and hope to have the tree delivered this week.
"We have the bench that will surround the tree so one we get that installed it will hopefully all move fairly quickly from there.
"It's hoped within the next seven to ten days we will have it complete."
When the garden was first announced earlier this year, many people living in Renfrewshire whose lives have been tragically touched by covid have offered to help build the memorial garden.
The plans had to be put on hold due to a second lockdown, but Heather said local people are now eager to see the garden completed.
She is also hoping residents will help maintain the space once it is complete.
She added: "People are really keen to see the garden completed and we have had a lot of people offer to come and help with the work which has been fantastic.
"We are also looking for any volunteers who would like to help maintain the garden once it has been completed.
"So anyone who is interested, please do get in touch with us."
