The glow of hundreds of glass jars will light up Plymouth Hoe over the next three weeks in memory of loved ones lost.

St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth has launched its Memory Jar appeal, giving people a chance to remember their loved ones by creating a special memory jar keepsake with their messages stored inside.

The charity, which provides specialist end of life care for patients across Plymouth, South West Devon and East Cornwall, is offering people the opportunity to create their own personal jar, to which memories can be added over time.

On Sunday (May 6), each of the jars will be brought together to create a touching display in the garden on Plymouth Hoe, where it will remain open to the public until May 28. St Luke’s staff will be opening the garden between 3 – 7pm Monday to Friday (up to 10pm on Thursday), and 12 – 4pm at weekends and bank holiday Mondays.

By day, the local community will be able to visit to see the keepsakes and pay their respects to those no longer with us. By night, the individual solar lights in the jars will illuminate them, shining brightly over Plymouth Sound. Everyone who creates a jar will be invited to a non-religious service to launch the display, at 3pm on May 6. With heartfelt readings and poems, it will be an opportunity for remembrance and reflection.

All the donations received for each jar will go towards the £4 million St Luke’s needs to raise each year to continue its service for over 3,400 patients and their families in the community – at home, in hospital and at its specialist unit at Turnchapel.

Head of Social Care at St Luke’s Jutta Widlake said: “Every day at St Luke’s we are supporting people who have lost a loved one to a terminal illness. We know that it is always a very difficult time and that sometimes, grief can rob them of their memories of the person they’ve lost.

“We understand how important it is to remember your loved ones – memories are precious and powerful. We want to give people the opportunity to remember the good things and happy times by creating a memory jar they can add to over time. If they want to, they can invite family to contribute their memories too, so that every generation can be involved. The jar can be a talking point and might also lift their spirits.”

Supporters are encouraged to collect their jars from the garden on May 30 or 31 so that they can keep it and add to it over the years.

You can create your own memory jar to join the display at