ISLANDERS will be able to remember a loved one while supporting a charity this week by visiting a temporary memory garden in town.
Maillards Funeral Directors is holding its third pop-up ‘Celebrating Life Memory Garden’ in 31, Queen Street – the site of the former Dorothy Perkins store – until Saturday from 9am to 5pm.
The community initiative, which is now in its second year, allows visitors to remember a loved one by writing a memory on a card – which can then be placed on a wall – in exchange for a donation to charity.
The cards being used have been infused with ‘forget-me-not’ seeds, which will be planted once the event is over.
Previously, the memory garden helped support the Island’s Special Care Baby Unit, but this week’s initiative will raise funds for Dementia Jersey.
Mark Reynolds, the chief executive of Elme Group – which owns Maillards Funeral Directors – said: ‘The opening of our third garden is testament to the success of the last two; the response we have received from the people of Jersey has been overwhelmingly positive, so we felt compelled to continue with our pop-up in 2022.
‘Death still remains a difficult and somewhat taboo topic so our aim is to create a safe and inviting space so that anyone who wishes to remember a loved one can do so in a relaxing environment.’
Claudine Snape, the chief executive of Dementia Jersey, said: ‘We are delighted to be the chosen charity for this year’s Maillards Memory Garden. Not only does it give Islanders an opportunity to remember loved ones and share a memory, but all money raised will go towards our new allotment – a space that will be specially designed with sensory elements where people with dementia who are keen gardeners can visit during spring and summer and continue to do what they have always loved to do.’
Maillards managing director Julian de la Cour said the memory gardens seemed to be growing in popularity each time.
Town centre and events manager Connor Burgher said: ‘I’d love to see more pop-up shops like this happening – I hate seeing empty units around St Helier and I think it’s great that these guys have moved in for a week or so.’
