Baby loss garden given makeover by volunteers

A quiet remembrance garden at a hospital has been refreshed after months of work and new funding from two local groups.

Torbay Hospital's Heartsease Garden, which was created for parents and families grieving the loss of a baby, has been restored thanks to volunteers from the Rotary Club of Torquay.

"The Heartsease Garden is a very special space and everyone involved wanted to treat it with real care and respect," said president Roy Tuttle.

"Clearing, cleaning and replanting the garden felt like a meaningful way of giving something back to families at a very difficult time," he added.

The Torbay Hospital League of Friends has also funded a new water feature, a teak bench and two large planters to make the garden calmer and more peaceful.

Chair Martin Tucker said members knew "how important this garden is for parents and families following baby loss and our aim was simply to help enhance a space that already offers quiet comfort, reflection and peace".

Nicola McMinn, chief nurse at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, said the support had made "a genuine difference" to families returning to remember loved ones over time.

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