A new memorial sculpture trail has been created by Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital Charity at the National Memorial Arboretum, recently renamed the RBL Memorial Gardens, helping patient families celebrate and remember their lost loved ones.
The ‘Remembering Together’ sculpture trail was created after bereaved families expressed their desire to have a peaceful place to come to pause and reflect, away from the hospital setting.
Unique sculptures on the trail include a silver butterfly representing the lost lives of little ones gone too soon at Birmingham Women’s Hospital, a tree enclosed in a balloon to remember the lives of children who were patients at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, a beautiful droplet to reflect the kindness of bereaved mothers who donate their breast milk for other babies, and caring hands to show the compassion of NHS staff who have sadly passed away.
These original-design sculptures were created by James Sutton, an East Midlands contemporary sculptor who utilises sustainable materials and takes inspiration from the natural world. The sculptures were designed in close partnership with patient families and the hospital’s bereavement and chaplaincy teams, ensuring the trail provides sensitive spaces for reflection in beautiful surroundings.
The self-led trail is an evolution of an existing installation created on behalf of the hospitals in 2012, with five ‘seed-like’ shapes representing loss and new beginnings.
For families who are unable to visit the sculpture trail in person, the charity has also provided a virtual dedication page. Families are invited to explore the sculptures, share special dedications and photos in memory of lost loved ones, and to give a gift in memory if they would like to.
At the launch of the ‘Remembering Together’ sculpture trail were Mark Brider, CEO of Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital Charity, and patient mum Emma Hill, representing bereaved families. Emma’s daughter Milly was born at Birmingham Women’s Hospital in 2013 with a very rare congenital condition, and was later transferred to the Children’s Hospital. She was cared for by the hospital all her life, but sadly passed away the day before her second birthday after having had surgery on her heart. In the years since, Emma, along with her family and community, has raised thousands of pounds in support of the hospital’s paediatric intensive care unit.
Mark Brider, CEO of Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “Our care for patients doesn’t just stop at the door to our hospitals. Loss is profound and overwhelming and our bereavement and chaplaincy teams are there for our families as they navigate this devastating journey. This unique trail goes a step further by honouring and celebrating those no longer with us, providing a meaningful and uplifting space for remembrance.
“We’re proud to have worked closely with families and the hospital’s bereavement and chaplaincy teams to create it, and we hope it will provide peace and comfort for many years to come.”
Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital Charity supports the 50,000 women, babies and families at Birmingham Women’s Hospital, and 100,000 sick kids treated at Birmingham Children’s Hospital every year, by helping to provide the best treatment, care and experience possible.
For more information on the ‘Remembering Together’ sculpture trail, please visit bch.org.uk/nma