Our Remembrance Garden at Head Office in Stroud is currently in the process of essential maintenance with remembrance pegs being restored.
The Remembrance Garden is always open to anyone who needs a space to reflect and remember a loved one lost to meningitis. If you visit in the next few months, you will see that we are in the process of refreshing the garden.
Established in 2009, the garden was designed by award-winning landscape designer Sue Jollans to offer a tranquil space for contemplation and comfort.
In 2016, to celebrate Meningitis Now’s 30th anniversary, the charity obtained funding to build ‘The Meningitis Now’s Futures Garden’, designed by gold-medal winning designer and landscaper, John Everiss. It was exhibited at the Chelsea Flower Show and won the People’s Choice Award.
Spirit and energy
The design was inspired by the spirit and energy of families whose lives have been irrevocably changed by the disease. This garden included five dramatic life-size cedar-wood sculptures of some of the charity’s youngest supporters impacted by meningitis or sadly lost their life.
As part of our Forever Fund initiative, families who have lost a loved one to meningitis were given the option of having a memorial wooden peg engraved with their loved one’s name. One peg was given to the family while a second peg was placed lining the garden path, forming a lasting tribute within the Remembrance Garden.
In intervening years, the pegs have naturally disintegrated with time and weather. The wooden sculptures and oak bench are also in need of restoration, and the planting will be rejuvenated to reflect the meaning of the garden.
Remembrance pegs
The remembrance pegs are a poignant and important part of the garden to many people. The ongoing work involves removal of the pegs, re-oiling, and the attachment of a metal stake to future-proof the pegs from the elements. The pegs will be returned to their allocated place as soon as possible.
If you are intending to visit the garden, please do check with us first so we can update you on the status of your loved one’s peg. We ask that you kindly bear with us and we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
