Bereaved families supported by Martin House Children’s Hospice were joined by wildlife presenter and conservationist Chris Packham as they officially opened a new Garden of Memories.
The new outdoor space at the hospice in Boston Spa opened on Thursday 8th October, providing a peaceful environment for families to reflect and remember children and young people who have died.
Designed with input from the hospice’s Bereaved Parent Advisory Group and care teams, the garden allows bereaved families to visit independently at any time. Interactive elements in the garden were inspired by therapeutic stories such as The Hare-Shaped Hole and The Invisible String, with some features created by siblings through the Memory Makers Project funded by Hospice UK’s Dying Matters Community Grants Programme.
A central feature of the space is the Letters to Loved Ones post box, funded by Amardeep Sirha and Theo Morris in memory of their son, Simba. The post box offers a dedicated place for families to leave letters, cards, drawings, and messages to their children, with Amardeep and Theo posting the first letter during the opening ceremony.
Chris Packham toured the hospice before the opening, meeting families and threading the first ribbon on a remembrance weaving board.
“It’s been an amazing afternoon. Martin House is absolutely astonishing,” said Chris Packham. “To make such a positive difference to people’s lives, when those lives were at their most fragile, is absolutely heartwarming. And to have a garden like this that everyone can use is another remarkable asset in what is a truly remarkable place.”
Amardeep Sirha and Theo Morris said: “Bringing people together was such a special part of who Simba was. We wanted to fund this post box in his memory so that something created in his name could continue offering comfort and connection to others. Grief does not end, and neither does the relationship we have with our children. There are always more words to say, more memories to share and more love to give.”
Vicki Greensmith, Director of Clinical Services at Martin House, added: “When a child dies, our support for their family doesn’t end. This garden gives families another place at Martin House where they can spend time, remember and feel close to their child.”
Martin House supports more than 550 children and young people with life-shortening conditions across West, North, and East Yorkshire each year, alongside offering specialist bereavement support to around 200 family members annually.
