VOLUNTEERS in Stourbridge have created a memorial garden along the Greensforge stretch of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal.

The Stewponey Volunteer group, working alongside a team from the Canal & River Trust, has designed the garden so residents and boaters have a special place to remember loved ones who have passed away while enjoying the peace and tranquillity of the waterways.

With a gravel pathway into the garden leading to a newly installed bench, the garden has been planted with a variety of small trees, shrubs and wildflowers which, once matured, will provide colour throughout the year.

Family and friends will soon have the opportunity to purchase a memorial plaque from the trust and place it within the garden as a lasting legacy to a loved one.

Terry Hodgetts, from the Canal & River Trust, said: “Many people like to have something or somewhere special to go to remember someone and this memorial garden is a perfect quiet spot along the canal where you can do just that.

“The volunteers have cleared the garden area of overgrown trees and really opened up the area so it’s now light and bright.

“The volunteers working with my team have put a lot of thought into what should go into the garden to make a really lovely calming place to visit and spend some time along the waterways.“