The loss of a baby is an exceptionally hard thing for any parent to go through.
To try and help parents with the grieving process, Swindon Borough Council has teamed up with the Swindon branch of the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society (SANDS) to provide a new dedicated area where babies’ ashes can be scattered at Kingsdown Crematorium.
The memorial garden will be officially unveiled this Sunday at the annual October Memorial Service, where local people come together during Baby Loss Awareness Week, in memory and celebration of their departed loved ones.
Flowers have been planted to encourage wildlife such as bees and butterflies, while engraved stones have been placed in the special space with the words ‘Always Loved, Never Forgotten’.
The centrepiece for the area is a white blossom tree, that will grow over the years and become a large part of the SANDS garden, with its petals falling like teardrops in the autumn.
Steph Hobbs, from SANDS, said, “We were approached about the memorial garden area in February last year, just prior to the first COVID-19 lockdown, with the idea of giving parents their own special area to place their babies’ ashes.
“This will not only ensure they’re not lost within the wider grounds of the crematorium, but will also give parents a place they can feel close to their baby after they have been laid to rest.
“This new area is an important step towards ensuring all lost babies, regardless of age, are treated with respect and will enable their parents to grieve and remember them in their own way.
“We had a small team of volunteers who worked so hard over the last 18 months, not only creating the new area, but also maintaining the baby garden so it remains a special haven for parents to go and remember their babies for years to come.”
Councillor Brian Ford, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults and Health, said, “Losing a baby is heartbreaking, but we hope that this new memorial garden will help bring some peace to those who have experienced a terrible tragedy.
“The team at SANDS have done a wonderful job in creating this peaceful and tranquil environment and I am sure it will bring a great deal of comfort to those coming to terms with the loss of their baby.”
