A member of our Bereavement Support Team will be at the Sands Garden at the NMA to welcome you, listen, and offer support on: 

• Saturday, 4th July | 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm 

• Thursday, 24th September | 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm 

At 12:30pm on both days, we will hold a gentle, short act of remembrance and reflection. Afterward, please feel free to stay for a chat or take a peaceful stroll through the rest of the Arboretum. 

One of the most powerful parts of Sands Community is when bereaved parents and families have the opportunity to meet others and remember their babies together. We know how much comfort there is in meeting others who understand your journey. Our network of amazing Sands Groups and volunteers continue to provide this unique peer support in local communities all across the UK, with a huge range of events and activities that bring people together and create those connections. You can find out more on our local Sands Groups page – do look at their social media channels, as often local Groups update with news on their events online. 

The Sands Garden at the NMA will always be there for anyone who wishes to visit it, it’s a special place for so many. The garden is not changing, it and the dedications that are there will stay there and continue to be cared for. 

It is always there for you as a peaceful place to sit among the trees and remember your baby. And if you can’t make it to the NMA or would like to spend time in a memorial garden near you, there are many local gardens of remembrance that Sands Groups and volunteers either manage or support in their area. If you’d like to visit one, you can see where they are on this map. 

Gardens of Remembrance

Jen Coates, Director of Community and Volunteering and Bereavement Support Services, Sands said: “We know how important it is to come together, to connect and be with others who understand your journey. That’s why we’re going to continue to hold remembrance events at the Sands Garden at the National Memorial Arboretum.  

“At the same time as trialling these smaller events at the Arboretum, we’re working with our amazing volunteers who continue to provide peer support events and activities in local communities across the UK.  

“Thank you to everyone who makes these important moments of connection happen - increasingly in ever more creative ways, offering a range of ways people can come together, speak about their baby, and share their experience in a safe, compassionate and supportive space.”