A new memorial garden and play area at Liverpool Women's Hospital was opened yesterday by the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, Dame Lorna Muirhead and the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr Roz Gladden.
The project by Liverpool Women's Charity, was funded by a £12,000 donation from Tesco Bags of Help. Shoppers voted the memorial garden and play area as their chosen project for the donation. The project also received £3000 from the League of Friends.
Sixty guests attended the opening to celebrate the completion of the outdoor area and the recent merger of charity, The Newborn Appeal into Liverpool Women’s Charity.
The outdoor play area will be a safe space for young visitors to enjoy while the memorial garden will offer bereaved families a private space within the hospital grounds, to help them cope with the visit to the hospital during difficult and upsetting times.
Nadia Alsafaar, Fundraising Manager at Liverpool Women’s said: “The memorial garden and play area are facilities we have wanted to provide our patients and families with for some time and we are delighted to be successful in completing the project. Local charity The Groundwork Trust have worked tirelessly with us over the past eight weeks and we would like to say a big thank you to both Tesco and Groundwork for their support and hard work in creating this unique space in the hospital.”
Merseyrail also supported the project and provided volunteers to work on the garden.
Andy Parry, Head of Engagement and Reward at Merseyrail, said: "It was great to support Liverpool Women’s Charity in the building of this memorial garden. We are proud of the finished garden and hope that it provides comfort for families who will use it for many years to come."