'Their name is seen' - Baby loss memory wall unveiled at Countess of Chester Hospital

A memory wall for babies who have died has been unveiled at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

The colourful display was handcrafted by Kate Buckley, a co-ordinator at the hospital’s Milk Bank. It features dandelions, butterflies and lavender, with space for families to have their baby’s name hand-painted on the wall.

Families who choose to take part will receive a photograph of their baby’s name on the display, along with a hand-decorated memory pebble.

The wall was developed with the Trust’s Bereavement and Memory Milk Bank teams. It forms part of the wider Memory Milk Gift Initiative, which supports parents following the loss of a baby and offers choices around milk donation, keepsakes and remembrance.

Ms Buckley said her work with the initiative had shown her how much it could mean to parents for their babies to be honoured and remembered.

The dandelion was chosen as the centrepiece because it is a symbol of hope. Ms Buckley said she hoped families would feel that someone was thinking of them when they saw their baby’s name on the wall.

Lesley Roe, a bereavement midwife at the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said the display could reassure parents that their baby was remembered and that their name continued to be spoken about.

She said many bereaved parents might never see their child’s name on a school register or school photograph, making the wall a special place where it could be displayed.

The memory wall is located in the Trust’s Women and Children’s Building, which opened in September 2025. The building includes dedicated spaces for families affected by baby loss, including private areas for remembrance and memory-making.

Families supported through the Memory Milk Gift Initiative can also access the Memory Milk Garden in the Countess of Chester Country Park.

Open article on Cheshire Today