“SHE is probably looking down at us now and would be very impressed.”

Those are the moving words of the parents of murdered Hampshire landscape architect Jo Yeates, after they visited their daughter’s memorial garden yesterday.

It was a day of mixed emotions for David and Teresa Yeates as they joined a group of 50 of Jo’s friends, family and fellow landscape architects who helped put the finishing touches to the memorial at the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, near Romsey.

They visited the tranquil site to plant a selection of 300 wild flowers and grasses, ahead of its official opening next month.

Dutch engineer Vincent Tabak was last year jailed for life after a jury found him guilty of killing Jo, 25.

The former Sherborne House School pupil was living in Clifton, Bristol, when she disappeared on December 17, 2010.

Yesterday, Jo’s parents saw the fitting tribute to their daughter edge one step closer to completion.

The garden, which has been designed by one of Jo’s former colleagues, Phil Deacon, and her former university lecturer, Brodie McAllister, has a butterfly-inspired wooden bench with a paved area, in the shape of a butterfly wing, which leads down to a meadow of wild flowers overlooking a lake.

Jo’s parents have also selected a maple tree for the garden and a gingko tree Jo planted herself has been moved there.

Struggling to hold back the tears following the emotional planting ceremony, Teresa said: “I think she would have been surprised and pleased and very impressed with it.

“It’s unique, it’s different and it’s everything that Jo liked. I think she’s probably looking down on at us now, watching what’s going on.

“The enormity of everything that’s happened is still there, but this will help. It’s beautiful.”

Her husband, David, said: “When I think I’ve had my last words with Jo, it brings an air of despair because we have all we are ever going to have of Jo.

“I don’t think we are ever going to come to terms with that. Not being able to communicate with her is the hardest part. Nothing can replace that.

“We think of Jo anyway, but this is somewhere we will definitely come to do that.”