Aberdeen Funeral Directors Woodside have installed a vibrant Butterfly Memorial Garden for bereaved parents.
The funeral directors put together a space within the grounds of the Woodside funeral home, where bereaved parents and loved ones can come to reflect.
They worked with SANDS, the Still Birth and Neonatal Death Charity, MISS, Archie’s Child Bereavement Service, Printfield Community Project and Aberdeen City Council to pull it all together.
A tree has been planted and parents can get a custom decoration in the shape of a cloud, heart or butterfly made by Heather’s Woodcrafts with an engraving of up to 24 characters to hang on the tree.
Loved ones will also be able to visit the garden whenever they like, just call the Woodside funeral directors, to let them know when you wish to visit to make sure there are no services taking place.
Katrina Adams of Funeral Directors Woodside first came up with the idea, after noticing the lack of recognition of bereaved parents.
Katrina said, “I have thought for a long time, there is nothing for parents who are bereaved. There is Mother’s Day for people who have lost their Mum’s. Father’s Day for people who have lost their Dad. Valentine’s day for people who have lost their significant other.
“Nothing for a bereaved parent.”
Bereaved mums, Nikki Duncan and Brooke Winchester, agreed with Katrina about the lack of recognition and support they have received.
Nikki lost her baby Andrew after he was born prematurely at 24 weeks. “There is no place for babies which are born prematurely, there is a small memorial wall at the crematorium, but they are not really recognised.
“It has been hard, not having somewhere to go and remember them by, other than your house. It’s nice to have somewhere to come, where you can sit, have a cry, remember them and then leave happy.”
Brooke agreed with her, “I have been through a miscarriage, and there is nowhere to go for a miscarriage either, and It’s really hard to find somewhere to grieve.
“There is no support after you have been through this, unless you talk to someone else who has been through it too. We need that support in the community for people like me and Nikki.”
Brooke and Nikki thanked dignity for providing support and a place to remember their loved ones and would like to encourage others to get in touch to memorialise their lost loved ones too.
Find out more about the charities’ here.
http://www.aberdeen-sands.org/
https://archie.org/bereavement/
Contact Woodside Funeral Directors on 01224 277444
Located on 283-285 Great Northern Road