Sands memorial garden

The Sands garden at The National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire, was established in 2000. It is an area dedicated to the memory of all babies who have died: a tranquil place where parents can remember their own baby in peace.

The 2010 Sands memorial service will be held at the Arboretum on Saturday 26th June at 2pm in the Chapel.  Download further details>>

Background

Alison and Jon Stokes' son Jack was stillborn on 7th March 1998. Since Jon works for the Tree Council, they naturally thought of planting a tree but they also wanted to see if there might be something else they could contribute.

"In hospital during the worst three days of our life together, we began to think about ways in which we could celebrate our son's brief existence"

The National Memorial Arboretum group is a member of the Tree Council. As part of millennium celebrations, their vision was to develop the 150 acre site at Alrewas, with memorial areas and trees planted in tribute to men, women and children of the twentieth century; a chance to commemorate the past by creating a permanent and living gift for the future.

An opportunity developed for Sands to create its own Memorial Garden within the site, in memory of all the babies who have died before, during and soon after their birth.

The garden and its creators

Nicholas Newton, an experienced landscape and garden designer, designed the Garden to reflect the emotional journey that many parents face in trying to come to terms with their bereavement.

The Garden features a Portland stone sculpture of the Sands teardrop logo, which has been designed in a way that encourages adults and children to sit and touch the central carved figure of the baby. The overall design and implementation of the sculpture was arranged by Paul Crabtree of The Portland Sculpture Trust. The figure of the baby was carved by John Roberts.

The two elm sculptural seats in the garden were designed and carved by Nigel Ross.

Annual memorial service

The Sands Garden was first opened to Sands members in June 2000.

In June 2001, a memorial service was held in nearby Lichfield Cathedral, followed by a formal opening of the Garden to the public.

Since then an annual memorial service has been held in the Millennium Chapel at the arboretum, during Sands Awareness Week.

Sarah Neophytou was amongst the speakers at the Service in 2003. She first visited Sands Memorial Garden in June 2000. She spoke about how the path through the garden has mirrored her own emotional journey after the loss of her daughter.

The developing role of the garden

In 2001 Sands set up a committee whose role is to ensure the Garden is properly maintained and to develop its potential to raise awareness of and generate funds for Sands' work.

Their first project was helping to produce the Sands CD. The CD features two songs written and performed by Sands parents and recorded during at the Memorial Service in 2000.

The Sands Baby card and a cross-stitch kit, both of which feature the beautiful baby sculpture created by John Roberts, are also now available. Proceeds of sales all go to maintaining the garden, and developing other memorial gardens around the UK.

For more information about existing gardens, or memorials you might be planning to create in your own area, please to link to Creating a Sands garden.