Sleeping Angels wood has been officially opened at Colden Forest, West Baldwin. It's a place parents can go to plant trees in their children's memory.

Tori Smithies, whose son Charles was stillborn in 1996 and who miscarried twins 12 years later, is behind the project.

She said: 'Sleeping Angels Wood is a place that recognises every tiny soul that didn't make it for whatever reason and somewhere families can go, knowing everyone they see is living with the same pain.

'It’s somewhere to take older or younger brothers and sisters so that they can see their sibling’s sapling change and grow over the seasons, just as they would have done, and somewhere for people to meet and talk about their little ones.

'Hopefully it will help break the taboo that is child loss and mean that parents don’t have to hide their grief behind closed doors.'

The project has been supported by the Woodland Trust, of which Tori is a director, and the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture which owns the land.

DEFA member David Cretney MLC said: 'The woodland is a beautiful, peaceful place for parents to remember their children. Tori and her fellow volunteers have been the driving force behind this and have converted their tragedies into something positive to assist other bereaved parents.

'I am pleased DEFA has been able to earmark land for this poignant purpose.'

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