The Sands Garden at the National Memorial Arboretum was established in 2000 and is dedicated to the memory of all babies who have died. It is a tranquil place where families can remember their own baby in peace and is open all year round (except Christmas day).
The garden was originally inspired by Alison and Jon Stokes whose baby son Jack was stillborn.
At the heart of the garden is a Portland stone sculpture of a baby, created by the respected sculptor John Roberts. It has been designed in a way that encourages adults and children to sit and touch it. The Sands garden also includes two beautiful handmade oak benches on which parents and families can sit and reflect.
The paths within the garden are lined with stones or pebbles on which families have written their baby’s name or a short message. If you would like to visit and write on a stone in memory of your baby then please bring an indelible marker along with you in order to this. Alternatively you can add your own stone but please use one that is no bigger than 7cms diameter and write on it with indelible markers.
You might also want to attend the annual Sands Remembrance event and Garden Open Day held each June at the Arboretum. This year's service will take place on Saturday 10th June 2017. The service will be followed by a short dedication in the Sands garden.
The National Memorial Arboretum situated on Croxall Road, Alrewas, Staffordshire DE13 7AR. Visit: www.thenma.org.uk or call 01283 792 333 for more details.
Baby Callum will be having a stone here next time I visit. Baby Callum Died in 1996, due to my placenta abruption. This means my placenta was torn from the wall of the womb.
https://www.sands.org.uk/support-you/remembering-your-baby/sands-garden
