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Baby Memorial Garden Sculpture
Baby Memorial Garden Sculpture
Baby Memorial Garden Sculpture
Baby Memorial Garden Sculpture
Memorial tree with metal leaves
Memorial tree with metal leaves
View of Memorial Tree and sculpture
The Fife Babies Memorial Garden, in Public Park Dunfermline, was officially opened on Sunday 10 December by the Provost of Fife, Jim Leishman.
The memorial garden is dedicated to all the babies whose ashes were not returned to their families as a result of historic cremation practices.
At the private gathering, Chief Executive of Fife Council Ken Gourlay reaffirmed the formal apology made to the families affected and went on to say: "A place of acknowledgement and remembrance is of great importance. Whilst the garden and sculpture provide the memorial place, the memorial tree provides the personal tribute to the babies.
"The garden and sculpture are stunning. And the garden is set to only grow more beautiful throughout the seasons of the year. I hope families will find comfort when they visit.”
Melanie Malcolm spoke at the service on behalf of the parents and families and expressed what the memorial means to them. Some parents have also chosen to add a leaf to the memorial tree, a personal message dedicated to their baby.
Upon officially opening the memorial garden, Provost Jim Leishman added that: “The memorial garden is a credit to the parents and a heartfelt remembrance to their baby. The plants have been picked to give bloom and colour throughout the year and when the spring comes, the bulbs planted all around the garden will provide a carpet of colour.
"The intricate sculpture, titled ‘Entwined’ is very moving. Its title was chosen by the parents involved and I hope you will find comfort in the many elements and character of the design. The parents, the landscape designers, the artists and the landscapers have all come together to create a place that is intimately meaningful yet publicly inclusive.”
The garden was designed by Andy McLatchie, Director of DWA Landscape Architects Ltd, to complement the park and provide a place of peace and tranquillity. The sculpture ‘Entwined’ is a bespoke piece of art work designed in collaboration with the parents and created by Kevin Paxton of ArtFe. And bringing the garden from plan to reality are landscapers, Alex Butters Landscape Ltd.
Some parents wanted to have the babies names at the memorial site and/or to have the option to have a message available online.
If the Parents directly affected would like to leave a remembrance to their baby, the choices are detailed below:
Please choose what feels right for you. You may want to have both a leaf and an online message, one of the choices or neither.
If you are not ready to complete the form you may request either option at a later date, there is no time restriction.
Should you wish to have your baby's name leaf on the memorial tree in the Fife Babies Memorial Garden or dedicate a message for your baby on the Fife Babies Memorial Webpage, we welcome you to complete this form.
The Fife Babies Memorial is located in Public Park, Dunfermline. Near Viewfield Terrace, Dunfermline KY12 7QL.
It is situated in close proximity to the Dunfermline Town Railway Station and a short walk from near by bus stops. Parking is available at various points surrounding the park.
Sculpture formed from interwoven metal bars and rods to form ring in a Celtic Knot design. Base of sculpture would sit in planting bed. Overall height would be approximately 3m.
Initial themes on a Celtic Knot design were favoured by the group and have been used to form the basis of the sketch design.
The group also like the idea of using nature as a theme and to incorporate elements of nature which could have a meaning to individuals without being explicit or obvious to the wider audience. This can also bring in other elements which can rest within the design and be discovered when looking at it over time.
Interweaving vines and shoots in Celtic Knot formation with features from elements of nature with symbolic meaning to families.
Thorns at the base of the sculpture to represent hardship.
Potential for inscribed poem in the paving around sculpture.
Potential for inscribed poem in the paving around sculpture.
If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. You can do this by sending an email to babies.memorial@fife.gov.uk.
For more information about how Fife Council uses the data you provide visit www.fife.gov.uk/privacy
