AIREDALE Hospital has demonstrated its backing for Baby Loss Awareness Week.

The Steeton building was illuminated in pink and blue to show support for the initiative, now in its 16th year.

And to coincide with the week, a special garden – including a ‘tree of tranquility’ sculpture – where parents can remember and honour their children, was unveiled.

The garden was created as part of a collaboration between midwives and parents from the Sunbeam Support Group, for anyone who has experienced the loss of a baby or young child.

Airedale Hospital’s bereavement team, Aidan’s Elephants and charity SiMBA worked together to provide the tree of tranquility – the first of its kind in England.

An event was also held by staff and parents as part of the global Wave of Light, when candles were added to the tree and the garden was lit.

Internationally, thousands of families which have lost babies light candles simultaneously in remembrance.

Sarah Simpson, head of midwifery at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said she was “extremely proud” of all the joint work carried out to bring the projects to fruition.

“We hope that turning our hospital pink and blue will help start conversations about baby loss and give bereaved parents and families an opportunity to talk about their precious babies,” she added.

Bev Beaumont, bereavement support midwife at the trust, said she’d been overwhelmed by the number of people who attended the garden launch.

She added: “We received a large amount of positive comment about the wonderful work that had been carried out and how happy people were that bereavement support was now much more evident in acknowledgement of their loss. This is so important for affected families and the garden will continue to be symbolic of this.”

For further information about Baby Loss Awareness Week, visit babyloss-awareness.org.