A MEMORIAL garden to a murdered teenager will allow her family to make a “new start”.

The garden is to remember Jayden Parkinson, who was killed aged 17 by her former-boyfriend Ben Blakeley in countryside south of the town in December 2013.

Oxford Mail:

Jayden Parkinson

On Saturday, family and friends began planting land off Foxhall Road, close to where Jayden’s body was found in Blakeley’s uncle’s grave at All Saints Church, Didcot.

Speaking at the planting on Saturday, her mother Sam Shrewsbury said: “The garden has helped a great deal, it takes away a bit what happened at that church.

“I know it’s just close by but the church is the church again and it feels like the start of a good chapter.”


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She added: “We wanted people to come and plant, so they can have that little bit of the garden that is theirs.”

Blakeley was found guilty of murder at Oxford Crown Court in July and sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum of 20 years.

His brother Jake Blakeley admitted perverting the course of justice but was cleared of preventing a lawful burial. He will be sentenced on March 10.

Jayden’s grandfather Eric Shrewsbury said: “Nothing is going to take away the pain and grief we feel but it has reassured us there are good people out there.

“It will be a space where her friends can reflect.”

Jayden’s body is buried in Kent and her friend Bethany Ray had the idea to have a memorial closer to home.

The 18-year-old, who helped with the planting, said: “Once it’s finished I’ll be here all the time.

“It’ll be somewhere we can come and be close to her.”

Features of the garden will include purple fences, shrubs and flowers and a mesh board for people to place a locked padlock and make a wish, then come back and break the key off in it when their wish comes true.

Step-dad Dean Jones said: “Jayden would have loved it.”

The land was donated by South Oxfordshire Housing Association and work has been carried out by volunteers from social enterprise charity Aspire.

Head gardener at Aspire Gez Porter designed the space after consulting with Jayden’s family and friends.

He said: “It’s been quite an emotional journey”

Today Miss Shrewsbury and other parents who say their children have been let down by Oxfordshire social services are due to protest outside the department’s offices in Between Towns Roads.

She said: “As mums and dads we are standing outside with placards and loud voices saying ‘you didn’t look after our children, step down’.”