Telford couple's miscarriage guides baby memorial plan
A couple say they are creating a baby memorial garden after they suffered a miscarriage and found such a place did not exist for them to remember their loved one.Shaun Pickering and his partner Katie Stuart lost their baby in September 2024.Then, when they started going to coffee mornings run by a bereavement charity, Love from, George, Mr Pickering said they realised a dedicated space for them to reflect did not exist around Dawley Bank, Telford."It really stuck in my mind that there isn't something like that in place already," he said.
"Something which should be such a happy time and all of a sudden it turns out to be devastating and then you go through that loss, so I'm quite surprised there isn't something like this already."If this was already in place in September, myself and my partner would have definitely come here and used it."With the approval of Dawley Town Council, the couple and other volunteers have begun work on the garden in Jubilee Woods, Dawley Bank.
They plan to include a metal tree at the centre of the space where each leaf will be a plaque dedicated to a family that has lost a baby.Mr Pickering and Ms Stuart are expecting again, with their baby due in a few weeks time, and Mr Pickering said doing this project had benefited them and others."It is something that has helped us - not just myself but the other couples as well who use the coffee mornings. It's given us something to focus on," he added.
Celebrating positivity
Mr Pickering is organising the creation of the garden with his family's charity, The Pickering Foundation, and said he wanted to create a space where parents could take their time to grieve."It's to give them a place to remember their loved ones," he said."Depending on what stage people have lost their baby, sometimes you can't have a normal place of remembrance so somewhere like this is for anyone that's suffered from pregnancy loss."The garden itself is set to be finished by the end of the year but the foundation is still collecting donations and welcoming volunteers who can lend a hand.Firms in the area have donated items which were raffled off to raise £2,600 for the project."There's a lot of negativity out there these days, it's just nice to see people coming together for such a fantastic cause and something that means so much to us," Mr Pickering said.
Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
40 minutes ago
- BBC News
Search begins after light aircraft crashes in sea off Hemsby
A light aircraft has crashed into the sea and a search is under way for passengers, a lifeboat service has Coastguard received a mayday call saying the plane was in distress about two to three nautical miles (3.7 to 5.6km) off the coast at Hemsby Gap in Norfolk at 12:34 Deeks of Hemsby Lifeboat said crews from Caister and Gorleston had joined them in the search, alongside a Humber Coastguard added they had no information as to the type of plane or how many people were on board. All ships in the area have been asked to respond to the search for the aircraft, which emitted a beacon distress signal before is not known if a life raft was launched from the plane after it landed in the Deeks said lifeboat crews "could be searching for a while". Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Five inner-city gardens in Toxteth show off their colours
Gardens nestled behind Georgian homes and back alleys in an inner city area of Liverpool have been opened up to show off their character and colour to the five urban gardens in Toxteth, some of which have been created by local residents, have been made accessible for tours as part of the national Open Gardens annual of the spaces is an alleyway between two derelict homes that was transformed into a winter garden and recently featured on Gardeners' World on include a private garden behind a Georgian terraced home, and a classically designed Spanish garden at St Philip Neri said the gardens were a "fascinating group, all within the historic heart of Liverpool". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Exploding vape sets fire to FOUR homes as three rushed to hospital in horror blaze
AN EXPLODING vape set fire to four homes as three people were rushed to hospital in a horror blaze. The fire ripped through the four terraced houses in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, on Friday afternoon. 2 2 Four homes have been left uninhabitable on Grey Street but nobody was injured, according to Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue. It is understood that the vape was being charged on the bed and had "set the house on fire". The vape started to emit smoke but when the resident removed it from the charge, it exploded in their hand. Cherrie Hall, who is related to the owner of the house where the fire started, said she is "absolutely devastated". The owner is the grandmother of Cherrie's grandchildren and was one of those taken to hospital. Cherrie stated: "I had a phone call from my ex asking if we - me and my partner - could go check his mum's house as he had messages from people mentioning a fire at his mum's. "So of course we drove straight round and saw all the fire engines and the firemen, roofs caved in." She added: "Luckily the paramedics were already at the house for a separate thing with grandma's health when the vape exploded and set the house on fire. "She's absolutely devastated but is so in awe and amazed with the community and how much they've helped all families involved." A fundraiser has been set up to help the families affected by the Grey Street fire. The fire service has said an investigation will now take place to examine why the vape exploded.
