Memorials
There are also special children's areas where your baby can be buried with other babies. Our staff will always meet with you at any of our cemeteries and answer any questions you may have. Generally parents are worried that their baby will be lowered into a "gaping hole in the ground". This is not so. The baby graves are quite small, and are always prepared so that little or no soil can be seen; they are lined with greenery, and if possible with flowers. You can place toys, pictures, letters and flowers in the grave with the coffin.
Each private baby grave in our cemeteries is marked with a small white cross or marker. This will stay on the grave for as long as necessary until you decide if you would like a memorial. Many parents can not face placing a stone on their baby's grave, and that is understandable. If you have been given a footprint or handprint of your baby, this may be used in any memorial you may choose. It can be helpful to look at other memorials to see what is available, and give you some ideas. You can make a memorial personal to your baby, incorporating nicknames or pet names, engraving teddies, stars etc. You could visit our page on memorial symbolism or flower meanings for ideas; for example, a daisy signifies gentleness and innocence.
If you decide not to have a memorial, the marker can remain, and be replaced as necessary. You can plant the grave space with bulbs, flowers and shrubs. Equally, some parents can not face returning to the grave for some time. It is important to do whatever is right for you, as you and your baby are individuals. Our staff will keep the level of the grave topped up and the area tidy.
If your choice is for cremation, then you may decide some time in the future to bury the cremated remains in one of our cemeteries, and this will also be handled with care and dignity. You may have a service in one of our cemetery chapels, or at the graveside, prior to the burial of cremated remains. We can provide a temporary shelter in inclement weather.
In the future, you may wish to have a private memorial service in one of our chapels to mark an anniversary, and this can be arranged with our office. We also hold memorial services for babies and children every year during the first two weeks of December. You are most welcome to attend whenever you feel able to do so. The memorial services are not specifically religious, and include music and poetry. The names of babies and children are read out during the service and a candle is lit for each baby remembered. Just telephone the office and let us know your baby's name, which can be read out even if you do not feel able to attend. The date and time of the memorial service is always advertised within the cemeteries, and on our website. If you would like to receive this information by post, please let us know and we can add you to our mailing list.