Kerry and Ivan Mornington with their daughter Violet

The parents of a Fradley girl who died after being diagnosed with a rare blood disorder have seen work begin on a garden in her memory.

Supporters get ready to work on Violet's Garden
Supporters get ready to work on Violet’s Garden

Violet Mornington died in 2013 aged just five after being diagnosed with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis.

Following her death, her parents Kerry and Ivan created the Violets in Bloom charity.

They have since raised £82,000 to fund the new Violet’s Garden in time for what would have been her eighth birthday in June.

Kerry and Ivan Mornington with their daughter Violet
Kerry and Ivan Mornington with their daughter Violet

Mum Kerry said: “There aren’t enough words to express how grateful we are to everyone who has helped us achieve this, we couldn’t have done any of it without their support.

“To have the garden finished in June is a lovely birthday present to our precious little girl who continues to be the inspiration behind all of this.

“Losing a child is beyond devastating, the worse loss imaginable. We learnt through our own suffering amongst many other things, what is vitally important to a bereaved parent – and that is, understandably, that their child is remembered. We also feel very strongly that parents and their families need somewhere to go, to connect with their child, in a place they can find some peace and serenity.

“We wanted to do something practical, something purposeful, that would ease a little of that suffering and decided that creating a Children’s Memorial Garden in the area would be a good start as there was nothing nearby.”

Kerry and Ivan Mornington in Violet's Garden
Kerry and Ivan Mornington in Violet’s Garden

Violet’s Garden, at the Lichfield and District Crematorium in Fradley, will be a place for parents to who have lost children with a place to reflect and remember them.

Support has come from the M6 Toll, who donated £10,000 towards the garden’s central statue, Phase 2 Gym and Whitelodge Promotions. There have also been a number of fundraising initiatives, including cake sales and local schoolchildren selling wristbands.

Ivan and Kerry say they will continue to raise money in Violet’s name to support other local good causes.

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.