Memorial mural providing bereaved families a space to remember their lost babies.

Back to list 01/10/2024

Our new Cherry Blossom memorial mural is providing bereaved families and loved ones, a space to remember their lost babies.

The interactive artwork in the consultant-led area of our maternity unit, has been created by maternity care assistant and award-winning artist, Kelly McNeill. It features a flowering Cherry Blossom tree, painted across walls, surrounding the nearby family bereavement rooms. Loved ones are invited to add finger-painted blossoms, creating a collective expression of love and remembrance.

The memorial mural is part of a larger project, to redesign part of the consultant-led unit, which includes the separation the bereavement suite and labour ward.

Kelly said: “I wanted the mural to be interactive, for people to create simple finger-painted blossom flowers. Bereaved families will be invited to add their blossom to the large tree and parents, siblings, grandparents, and other loved ones can add their flowers together. The use of the Cherry Blossom is symbolic as whilst their lives are fleeting, they are incredibly beautiful.

“There are two walls painted so far and every member of the maternity team and colleagues who come on to the maternity wards have been invited to participate on the first wall to symbolise the support and community of care for bereaved families and their lost babies.

Over 200 staff members have already contributed, signifying the community of care surrounding bereaved families. A family, instrumental in advocating for the separation of the bereavement suite, will have the honour of adding the first blossoms on the family tree.

The mural will continue to grow and symbolise a community of support as well as being a beautiful artwork.