The first of two open days as part of The Herald's covid memorial campaign has been held as a way to reach out to people.
Our artist Alec Finlay is leading the research phase of the project and is reaching out to people across Scotland in a bid to capture their thoughts and feelings of the past 16 months.
Using the simple form of I Remember, Mr Finlay is working with people to develop their very own I Remembers which will help to shape our future memorial. Some of those collected will appear online, but it is our hope that all of them will be archived as a way to look back in years to come.
Read more: Covid Scotland: Helping to heal the scars of the pandemic with remembrance
The Herald has raised more than £60,000 to create a memorial in Glasgow's Pollok Country Park to those lost to covid or affected by it. A second open day will be held in Pollok Country Park on Saturday September 11.
Here were share the I Remembers from those who took part in a poignant open day event at Glasgow's Hidden Gardens.
Margaret Allan remembered the feeling of missing her family
Herald covid memorial campaign, I Remember open day at the Hidden Gardens, Glasgow. Pictured is Margaret Allan with her I Remember contribution. Photograph by Colin Mearns.
Larry Butler lost a friend during the pandemic
Herald covid memorial campaign, I Remember open day at the Hidden Gardens, Glasgow. Pictured is Larry Butler with his I Remember contribution. Photograph by Colin Mearns.
Hidden Garden volunteer Margaret Carlyle remembered the feeling of dread
Herald covid memorial campaign, I Remember open day at the Hidden Gardens, Glasgow. Pictured is Margaret Carlyle with her I Remember contribution. Photograph by Colin Mearns.
Sandra Walls feels there has been a journey through the pandemic
Herald covid memorial campaign, I Remember open day at the Hidden Gardens, Glasgow. Pictured is Sandra Walls with her I Remember contribution. Photograph by Colin Mearns.
A powerful I Remember submission from a health worker
Herald covid memorial campaign, I Remember open day at the Hidden Gardens, Glasgow. Pictured is a I Remember contribution. Photograph by Colin Mearns.
Helping to remember can be a simple thought
Herald covid memorial campaign, I Remember open day at the Hidden Gardens, Glasgow. Pictured are I Remember sentences tied to trees. Photograph by Colin Mearns.
Grace Browne welcomed us to the Hidden Gardens
Herald covid memorial campaign, I Remember open day at the Hidden Gardens, Glasgow. Pictured is Grace Browne with her I Remember contribution. Photograph by Colin Mearns.
I remember is being used to reach out to people
Herald covid memorial campaign, I Remember open day at the Hidden Gardens, Glasgow. Pictured are I Remember sentences tied to trees. Photograph by Colin Mearns.
To submit an I Remember, email covidmemorial@theherald.co.uk
You can donate to the campaign fund at gofundme.com/ herald-garden-of-remembrance. You can also send donations via post to The Herald Garden of Remembrance Campaign, Herald & Times, 125 Fullarton Drive, Glasgow, G32 8FG.
Send us in your 'I Remember...' submissions
You are invited to contribute your memories as an ‘I remember’ written text, whether you wish to remember a loved one who died, or contribute to a collective record of the pandemic. We have adopted ‘I remember’ as a shared form to create a national record of remembrance, recognising the cultural and political significance of the past year, and its ongoing repercussions.
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