LOSING a child is the most tragic experience a parent can go through, but now they can find some solace at a new memorial garden.

The Young Sprits Garden opened at The Feathers on Witton Street, North-wich, last week.

It is a place where people can come to contemplate loved ones who have passed on in colourful yet peaceful surroundings and has come about through medium Tracey Royle.

The 34-year-old, of Wallace Street, Castle, claims that she was inspired to create the garden after being contacted by the spirit of Josh Young, the Winsford seven-year-old who, along with his three younger brothers, was killed by his father three years ago.

Jackie Dennison, who runs the centre, explained how Josh came to make 'contact' with Tracey. 'His grandmother Phyllis is a regular visitor to Feathers, and is herself learning to be a fledgling medium,' she said. 'I asked Tracey, our resident poet, if she would compose a poem for the boys, explaining to those who visited Feathers, why there are yellow roses on the mantelpiece in Feathers' front room.

'You see, the boys always gave their nan Phyllis a yellow rose.

'Tracey went away to write her poem, and when she came back and read it to me, it brought tears to my eyes. However what happened next was absolutely wonderful. She said that, as she was writing the poem, a young lad from spirit kept popping in and out of the room and told her his name was Josh.

'I had never given Tracey the names of the boys, and the only thing I had told her was that I wanted a poem.

'Josh had gone on to tell her that he wanted a poem writing for his mum, and that he wanted to talk to his nan. So I rang Phyllis and she came down straight away. Tracey told Phyllis some marvellous things from her grandsons.

'Josh also told Tracey that he wanted to have a garden, somewhere where parents and grandparents could come and sit and enjoy a lovely cheerful garden created by spirit children.'

Tracey said: 'I actually contacted Josh in the backyard of Feathers - that's when he told me that the garden had to happen.

'He's a very protective little boy over the others - he likes to suss people out and when I told Phyllis this she said, 'that's Josh'.'

The transformation took three months and Jackie said: Everybody who works at Feathers was involved.

'What was wonderful was that at the launch a lady just came in off the street who had lost her son. She heard that we were doing this and bought a rose to plant and this is what it's all about - people getting involved and feeling that they can come here.'

Phyllis and the boys' mum Samantha Tolley, with baby Morghan, were guests of honour at the opening last week.

Phyllis says her daughter under-standably has mixed feelings about the project but that she has given it her blessing.

She said: 'Sam's a little bit sceptical but has said 'everyone to their own'. I think it's nice because there's quite a lot of us up at Feathers who have got children in the spirit world and the garden's not just for the boys, it's for a lot of children.

'People can think that it is a load of hocus pocus but it's not doing any harm and, like religion, if it helps you then it has to be worthwhile.'