Memorial garden supports families after baby loss

Shaun Pickering and Katie Stuart, after losing their baby Sky in 2024, created the Little Footprints in the Sky memorial garden in Jubilee Woods, Dawley Bank, Telford, England, to support families experiencing baby loss.

The couple founded the Pickering Foundation to raise funds for the garden, identifying a lack of dedicated spaces for remembrance in their area.

Emily Kinber, a mother from Crudgington, shared that the garden helped her overcome her fear of speaking about her daughter Hallie, who died shortly after birth, by connecting her with a supportive community. The garden provides a peaceful environment for reflection, allowing families to remember their babies and openly discuss their experiences. Kinber explained that the space is breaking down the “taboo” surrounding baby loss, giving people confidence to acknowledge all their children.

Since opening in April, the garden has seen over 80 leaf-shaped memorial plaques placed on a central steel tree, with some plaques dating back to 1964, demonstrating a long-felt need for such a space. Pickering and Stuart have continued to improve the garden with funding from a National Lottery grant, adding features like a decking area and more hedges to increase privacy.

For families like Kinber’s, the garden serves as a vital place to keep the memories of their children alive and share their stories with future generations, including her younger son.