Newark Children's Bereavement Centre to paint the town purple with daisies for remembrance event

The grounds of Newark Castle are set to be transformed with the planting of hundreds of purple daisies later this year.

Following the success of a similar campaign last year, the Children’s Bereavement Centre is once again running its daisy remembrance garden.

It is due to take place over the weekend of June 25-26.

In tribute to the Queen’s platinum jubilee, this year’s daisies will be purple. There will also be a limited number of platinum ones available.

As well as filling the castle grounds with metal daisies, the Newark-based charity is also hoping shops and businesses will transform their windows with daisy displays or a purple theme. There are many ways people can get involved, from purple daisies and decorations to bunting or knitted post box toppers.

Carol Bower has bought a daisy in memory of her daughter, Claire, who died in May 2020 after a brave battle with cancer.

Carol said: “We wanted to support this campaign as the centre helped my granddaughter and our family so much, supporting and guiding us all through the most difficult of times.

“We can never thank them enough for what they have done to support our entire family.

“The daisy is a lovely way to remember Claire and also help raise vital funds for such an amazing charity.”

People can buy an ornamental daisy in memory of a loved one for a suggested £25.

The daisy head can be removed so people can write a special message to put inside.

In addition to the exhibit in the castle grounds there will also be a small ceremony on the Sunday and children’s activities.

The daisy campaign will be launched in Newark Market Place tomorrow when the Children’s Bereavement Centre will have a stall where people can go and donate for the 2022 purple daisies.

The charity will also be promoting its CBC Challenge 22 campaign, which asks people to complete 22 tasks for the charity. Singer Clive Rudd will be performing 22 songs to promote the challenge.

It has been launched in 2022 to mark the statistic that every 22 minutes in the UK a child is bereaved of a parent.

Rachel Wilson, fundraising manager, said: “The weekend provides a unique opportunity for children, young people, and their families to come together to remember and celebrate the lives of those they love and have lost.

“After the last couple of years, we feel this is more important than ever.”

To buy a daisy online, go to the Children's Bereavement Centre website or call 01636 551739.