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Bereaved parents got green fingered as planting began at a new memorial garden.

Members of Swindon Sands, a group of parents who suffered the tragedy of losing their babies on or around their birth, met at Kingsdown Crematorium on Saturday to plant a hedge as the garden starts to take shape.

The group have been fundraising to raise the £10,000 needed to complete the garden, which will include benches, a statue and a water feature.

Cathy Milburn, 34, of Middleleaze, is one of the founders of the group.

She is hoping the site will be officially opened in October to coincide with National Baby Loss Week.

She said: “This garden is massively important. A lot of us have lost a baby or had a miscarriage so it is great to have somewhere to go.

“From my experience, my little boy is buried in London so it is nice to have somewhere in Swindon come and spend time.

“Some people don’t have a plot or grave to visit, so this is somewhere to go and reflect and take time to remember. I was so excited this morning to come and work on the garden.

“The garden is going to be open to anyone who needs it there are so many people who have lost a child.”

Parents will be invited to paint pebbles in memory of their loved ones to place in the garden and there will be a post box for people to write letters to their loved ones.

A charity ball is to be held to raise cash and the group needs donations of money, building materials and benches and help from landscape or green-fingered gardeners.

“We have got a wish list on the website of the things we are looking for to complete the garden,” Cathy said.