The ‘3B’s’ Broomfield Baby Bereavement Group has decorated one of the 25 smaller bees on the trail, which it hopes will raise awareness of the support that it offers to parents and other relatives after a baby has died.
The 3B’s is run by Julie Ellingford (pictured above) and Dianne Hodkinson. It was set up 15 years ago by Julie after her son died and she realised that there was nowhere she could go to talk with other families that have been through a similar experience.
Julie said, “Our baby bereavement group supports people from across Essex. We meet once a month at Broomfield Methodist Church where we have our own room and private peace garden. It’s a relaxed space where bereaved parents, grandparents and other relatives can come to support each other and talk about their loss, if they want to. Dianne and I also talk with our members between meetings, if they need that extra support.”
Julie and Dianne had read about Farleigh’s Buzz in the City art trail, we were delighted when one of the group decided to buy a mini bee for the 3B’s.
Julie said, “We are very pleased to support Farleigh Hospice as it’s a local charity that provides bereavement support to children and adults.
“Designing and decorating our mini bee has been incredible – it has brought our group together in ways that I really didn’t expect. People who might not talk very much at our meetings were happily chatting around the bee!
“We’ve called it ‘Hive of Hearts’ and it is on display in the Meadows Shopping Centre. The body is painted blue and pink, with the names of all of our babies in yellow honeycombs on the wings, along with the words ‘There is no footprint too small that it cannot make an imprint on the world’ and ‘Always loved, never forgotten’.
“We thought it would be just an art project that we could all enjoy but Hive of Hearts means so much more to us. Hopefully, other families who have experienced the loss of a baby will see it on the art trail and contact the 3Bs group if they need support too.”
Amy Ward (pictured), a member of the 3B’s group said, “I have found decorating the bee really therapeutic. Sadly, we lost our baby Finlay quite recently on 2 April. When I heard about this, I thought it was the perfect thing to focus on and get involved with. It’s really relaxing, and we can chat about our babies and catch up and reconnect in a shared experience.
It’s a group that no one wants to be a member of but when you do join you meet some amazing women who have been through so much. We lost a daughter, Amber, in 2013 and I was part of the group then. Then I had my son in 2014 and stepped away from the group as I felt it was difficult to have a baby when I know that other people would be going through a loss at that point. I didn’t want to be back in this situation again but it’s nice to reconnect with everyone, come back and feel like you are doing some good. I will be bringing my 11-year-old son Oscar on the trail.”
There are 30 giant bee sculptures and 25 smaller bees, including the Hive of Hearts, on the Buzz in the City art trail which is open in Chelmsford until 9th September.
For more information, visit the Buzz in the City website.
To find out more about the support available from the Broomfield Baby Bereavement Group, go to www.broomfieldbabybereavement.com