A LEGACY project to remember ‘lovely, bright and popular’ Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School student Nell Jones is taking shape six months on from the terrorist attack in which she lost her life.

Working closely with the Jones family, a committee of staff and students at the school have planned the construction of a Garden of Memories, dedicated to Year 9 pupil Nell, outside the main reception.

The three-part garden focuses on contemplation, with the design allowing for a garden open in all seasons to all the community.

Denis Oliver, executive headteacher at HCCS, said: “The response to our plans from students, staff and the whole community has been quite astonishing.

“We are working closely with Nell’s family to create something we can all be proud of.

“I have listened to Nell’s parents and how much comfort they have taken from having the garden developed. It keeps us focused and determined to deliver this project to the highest standard possible.

“Nell was a wonderful student and although we miss her dearly, we will never forget she was part of our school community.”

The garden is planned to open in May, with the first phase of building – structural underpinning of one section as set out by E3 Cube Ltd – completed by a team from the M6 J16-19 smart motorway project.

It will feature a bright and fragrant contemplation garden, a Japanese garden, and an accessible sensory garden.

Within the Japanese garden, a popular feature is the plan to create a ‘river of memories’ filled with 1,000 individually-decorated pebbles representing memories, not just of Nell, but of something or someone that is special to those who place them.

The contemplation areas, closest to the school, will focus on communication with an arbour, a winding path, and extensive planting

The sensory area will offer something different to children who have particular needs, and may gain some comfort from the opportunity to pick up on something that they enjoy or find calming.

Nell’s older brother Joe, 28, said: “We want to use this tragedy and Nell’s name to help other people and hopefully this will be the start of it.

“We wanted to do something that Nell would be proud of. She would always be there to help people, and we wanted to continue that.”

The garden is being funded by HCCS’s Remembering Nell Fund and other generous donations.