Visit a Sands Garden
This might be especially important if you cannot find any information about your baby’s burial or ashes. There are several of these around the UK. Phone our Helpline (0808 164 3332) to find out if there is one near you and get the garden contact details.
You could also visit the Sands Garden at The National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire which is open every day except Christmas Day. The Sands Garden 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. 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 add your own stone, use one that is no bigger than 7 cm diameter and write on or decorate it with indelible markers. Stones and indelible markers are stocked the National Trust shop at the Arboretum. You might also want to attend the Sands annual service in June at the Arboretum. Information about the service is posted on our website each year in March. www.sands.org.uk
Come to a Lights of Love non-denominational service
These are held every year in December in several towns across the UK. During the service, parents and families can light a candle in memory of their baby and write a message to hang on a Christmas tree. The date and venues for each year’s Lights of Love services will be announced on the Sands website each autumn.
Plant a tree
You could explore the possibility of planting or dedicating a tree either in your own or a friend’s garden or local park, the Woodland Trust, or National Trust.