00:00Abigail's Footsteps has opened the King's Orchard Community Growing Space here in Rochester
00:07to help families going through the unthinkable.
00:11The charity helps those who have witnessed the death of a newborn
00:15and a place like this offers them a chance to meet people who have suffered something similar.
00:23It's fantastic to see the garden today.
00:25I know so many people have worked so hard to make it happen.
00:30And through Phil Hesketh's Drive and Determination and Graeme's hard work
00:34and the team's fundraising, it's fantastic and many people have benefited from the use of this garden.
00:41Seedlings have been put down in this patch of land behind me
00:44and soon in the spring this ground is going to be full of beautiful food and plants.
00:51I first met them just over a year ago when I lost our baby boy.
00:57I have personally had ongoing therapy sessions and continue to do so with them
01:02and I think the work that they do with the funding for Abbey Cooling Cots is incredible.
01:08I first obviously came across them when I had bloom, never knew absolutely nothing about them naturally
01:15but I think they're vital for every family that goes through a heartbreaking loss.
01:22The area is named after the Dean of Rochester who also came to the grand opening.
01:28I'm not only overwhelmed and stunned by it, I feel quite emotional actually
01:36because when we began looking at how we might use the garden open spaces that the cathedral has
01:42as a place for well-being and for healing, I didn't know this space was going to be possible.
01:49It was just a thought and now here we are.
01:54Well, it's so well kitted out.
01:56We can do most things here, there's not a lot we can't do.
02:01I think again under the guidance of Graham, we'll be growing certain things at the right time of year.
02:08Food I think is a great one to get growing.
02:11The idea is that the groups would be coming repeatedly and through seasons
02:15so they could actually plant the seeds, grow the plants, plant them in the earth
02:20and see them really flourish over the whole year.
02:23Going into next year, the charity and community are excited to see this garden grow.
02:31Henry Luck for KMTV in Rochester.
