Work is well under way on a community garden in Heysham to remember a much-loved little boy who died in a gas explosion at his home.
George's Forget-me-not Garden is being built in memory of two-year-old George Hinds who died in the explosion on Mallowdale Avenue on May 16 2021.
Local companies and volunteers are rallying round to donate time and materials to help create the garden on the site of George's house which was destroyed in the blast.
George's nanna Janice Studholme said she hopes it can be a quiet, interactive and educational space for people to come and visit.
"I think little George would have loved this, he loved being outside and playing about," she said.
LISTEN to Janice Studholme, project manager Kev Wilson, and Alison Bell from Roocroft
George Hinds
Early groundwork has been taking place at the site, project managed by Kev Wilson who runs a building company in Heysham.
Kev said he hoped the land can be ready for community planting next spring, appealing for more volunteers to come forward to lighten the load.
"We've got a long way to go but we're moving forward and the more help we can get the quicker it will be," he said.
"It will be really nice to get this garden in ship shape for spring next year when we can bring kids in and they can all start doing the planting.
"We struggled to get going. The original design had big walls around it and we just weren't going to achieve that, with the cost of it.
"We went back to the drawing board, we're working at weekends and any time when companies can gift their employees.
"If we can all give a little bit, we can get George's garden.
"If we had 100 people give us a day each, that's 100 days work, we'd be done.
"We have local gardening companies who, once we get to that stage, are happy to come in and help, and do the design work, and get everything right.
"It's a black cloud, how this all happened, and if we can come out of it with a silver lining I think it's beneficial to everybody, especially the community."
The site where George's Forget-me-not Garden will be created, pictured on Tuesday
Alison Bell, from Leyland fencing specialists Roocroft, said her firm got involved after she heard Janice talking about the garden on local radio.
"She was talking about the amazing vision she has for this site, and the devastating circumstances," said Alison.
"I thought, how can we sit back and not get involved in this?
"The thought of the community having to struggle to put in fence posts when we've got skilled guys who do this every day.
A team from Roocroft putting up fencing at the site on Tuesday.
"We're really happy to have been able to get involved in it. Hopefully our relationship with Janice and the project will continue."
Cadent Gas have donated the boundary fencing to go around the site, which is being erected this week.
Then work will begin on creating a den using donated bricks, for children to play in.
"I want it to be a quiet space, with sensory things for children," said Janice.
"You can come with your grandchildren, bring a cup of tea and a picnic, we're going to try to put some tables in.
"I want everybody to come and enjoy it, and make it to be a peaceful, happy place to forget what went on in this area."
Kev has asked if anyone has a grab wagon they can donate for use at the site this weekend, please contact Kev Wilson Builders on 01524 722017.
The team are also looking for bricklayers to volunteer time to help. Again contact Kev Wilson Builders or find out more at the George's Forget-me-not Garden page HERE.
Read more: Rallying call for volunteers as work starts on memorial garden for little George - Beyond Radio
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