Remembrance and Mindfulness Garden
Drakies Remembrance and Mindfulness Garden was officially opened on 10th November 2023. Drakies Primary School has transformed an otherwise unloved area of the school grounds into a beautiful and peaceful space where pupils can choose to go for some ‘chill and still’ time if they are feeling sad, distressed, or in need of time to reflect. The school has a growing population of military families, as well as several children who are bereaved, or worried about family members.
The Head Teacher had noticed that some of these children were seeking out quiet spaces at break or lunchtime, so sought to create a calm and reflective space where they could practice mindfulness, regulate their emotions, and remember servicemen, servicewomen, and loved ones who have passed away. Drakies staff are aware of families who have experienced significant loss and are aware of families who are struggling when loved ones are deployed away from home. The school feels it is important to provide a space for children to be supported when they are feeling overwhelmed or upset. It is hoped that a calm and reflective space will provide opportunities for them to remember their loved ones and to talk about their memories.
The new garden has as its centrepiece a young oak tree donated by The Royal British Legion, and also includes spring bulbs, plants and shrubs donated by a local garden centre, and will, in time, be surrounded by a woodland hedgerow, thanks to saplings donated by The Woodland Trust. The school was also delighted to receive a significant donation from Jennifer’s Fund which allowed a lot of the work to take place. The new mindfulness and remembrance garden will hopefully have a positive impact on many children for many years to come.
