A BLUEBELL wood will be planted in Ponteland Park in memory of Sally Allan, the mum who disappeared on Boxing Day last year and was later found to have taken her own life.

It has been agreed with Ponteland Town Council that Sally’s family and friends will plant bluebells, her favourite flower, in the park, creating an area to be named ‘Sally’s Walk.’

The flowers will be planted tomorrow between 10am and 4pm.

Sally’s husband, Gordon, said: “Initially I got in touch with Ponteland Town Council and said I wanted to do something to thank the community for being so supportive, and it came back with a list of ideas.

“The bluebells instantly stood out to me because they were Sally’s favourite flower.”

Gordon explained that there is a a footpath through the park which will be lined on either side with around 10,000 native English bluebells, as well as snowdrops and crocuses.

He added: “The park seems the right place to have a memory of Sally.

“Sally played in the park as a girl, brought our children there to play and then took our grandson there. That’s three generations of our family.

“People who knew Sally can come along and plant a bulb in her memory. They might have their own loved ones they want to remember and they can plant one for Sally and one for them, because not everyone gets somewhere to remember their loved ones.”

As well as creating a space where they can remember Sally, friends and family were raising money in her memory at the Great North Run last weekend.

Sally’s son Clive and his wife, Annie Eccles, who live in Hexham, completed the half marathon for the mental health charity, Mind.

John Stewart, from Heddon-on-the-Wall, who knew Sally through her involvement in the Heddon Admurum Singers, also ran to support Mind.

He said: “This was my first time doing the run. I managed to raise over £600, which I was really happy with.”

John will also be involved in planting the bluebells on Saturday.

He said: “Sally was very community orientated, so the bluebell wood will be good, not only to remember her by, but to give something back to the community she loved so much too.”

Gordon added: “There were a number of people running for Sally at the weekend, which was lovely to see.

“It is just nice that we can turn a tragic situation into something positive. If it can help one person with their mental health, it will be worth it.”

Anyone is welcome to join in with planting the bluebell wood, and Waitrose has kindly agreed to provide drinks for those who take part.