Scotland’s Covid Memorial was created by the people of Scotland. 

I remember is a memorial walk through Glasgow’s Pollok Country Park, where 40 tree supports are being installed in groves and alongside paths. 

Scotland’s Covid memorial was created to offer anyone affected by the pandemic a place for remembrance and reflection and for hope and healing.

Since March 2020, more than 16,000 people have lost their lives to Covid in Scotland and sadly there is still further pain and suffering.

Many have lost friends, loved ones, and colleagues. More than 150,000 people have Long Covid. The pandemic has touched everyone’s lives. It’s why The Herald reached out and asked how do we remember this unprecedented time in all of our lives?

It led to The Herald launching a campaign and public fund to create a fitting memorial. Glasgow City Council stepped forward to offer Pollok Country Park as its home and a Memorial Steering Group was established. Working with our partners greenspace scotland, artist and poet Alec Finlay was commissioned to create and design the memorial.

I remember: Scotland’s Covid Memorial has been created in collaboration with the people of Scotland sharing their experiences of the pandemic. The first phase was opened by Deputy First Minister John Swinney on 27 May, 2022; the final artwork will be completed for the third National Day of Remembrance, in March 2023.

The artworks are inspired by human poses of support. Each design refers to a photograph by Hannah Laycock or Alec, of someone affected by the pandemic, including bereaved families and people with Long Covid.

I remember recognises the pandemic as an ongoing event. It includes a communal book of memories, published here on the website, as an audiobook, read by Robert Carlyle, along with a paperback. Alec received hundreds of contributions from people across Scotland and are a communal memory of the pandemic.

Alec painted every contribution by hand. The resulting artworks were buried in the Riverside Grove on March 14, 2022. A digital record of ‘I remember’ is being archived by the National Library of Scotland where, in due course, it can be consulted on request. You can contribute your own ‘I remember’ using the invitation on this website.

The audiobook was released to the public on March 23, the second National Day of Remembrance. The audio is also accessible in Pollok Country Park, via QR-code, using a smartphone. The oak tree supports, which were made by Alistair Letch, each bear the phrase ‘I remember’ in English or one of Scotland’s other languages. 

The memorial is funded generous donations from the public and also several high-profile donations from the Scottish Government, Transport Scotland, The Hunter Foundation, City Charitable Trust, The Watson Foundation, Freemasons of Glasgow and the Harry Clarke Group of companies.