PLANS to improve the children’s cemetery within Peebles graveyard will be revealed next month.

Last year, Peebles Community Council said it wanted to enhance the burial site as the area is “dark, damp and gloomy” and covered in bird droppings.

Bereaved parents agreed it was not a pleasant place to visit and gave their blessing to the proposal to remove the two cherry trees, but stated that they would like to see the hedge retained.

A suggestion was made to erect a Tree of Tranquillity, similar to the metal sculptures launched by the charity SiMBA. Copper leaves are added to the tree to represent a baby or child who has died.

As the charity only has one of these trees in each region, the community council and bereaved parents plan to launch a community fundraising venture to cover the cost of a local sculptor creating a unique one for Peebles.

However, a local businessman has also intimated that he would partially fund the project.

An artist’s illustration of the metal sculpture is to be presented to the community council for consideration.