Stars garden re-opens for bereaved families

Picture: The Stars garden offers a private space for families using the bereavement suite at Chestnut Tree House.

Any local family can use Stars – their baby, child, or young person does not need to have been cared for by the hospice prior to their death. In this way, Chestnut Tree House supports families affected by a sudden bereavement, too. The refurbishment includes a new patio which parents may use to be able to push a pram for the first time.

Associate Director of Children’s Services at Southern Hospice Group Sharon Wheeler was at a special opening ceremony in March with representatives from Bupa. She said: “For those experiencing the death of a child, the suite and garden are vital to help create lasting memories of their child, however long they may have had together. It provides a safe, calm, dignified and private space much more like a family home than a hospital. A huge thank you to our grounds and facilities teams, who oversaw the refurbishment with such care and sensitivity, ensuring every detail of the garden was created thoughtfully and gently for the families who need it most.”

Creating a place of peace and quiet

Angela used the Stars bereavement suite when her daughter Charlie died at eight years old and said that having the garden meant so much to her. “Being able to step outside while still having privacy gave me the space to breathe when everything inside felt overwhelming. In those moments, it helped to have somewhere quiet where I could gather myself before going back in.”

She added: “What made it even more special was the care and attention that has clearly been given to the whole space. Every part of the garden feels thoughtful and gentle, created with families in mind who are going through the hardest moments of their lives. It became a small place of calm in the middle of so much heartbreak, and I’m so grateful it was there.”

Working with partners to support vital hospice care

Bupa Foundation helps to create healthier communities and donated £20,000 to support the Stars Garden refurbishment. Sue Chambers is Chair of the Bupa Foundation Brighton Community Committee which has been supporting Southern Hospice Group since June 2024. Through their engagement, Bupa colleagues have volunteered, fundraised and the Group has received grants for specific projects.

She said: “We knew that the space was important for all the families – parents and siblings alike. We wanted to help make the garden even more child-friendly with additional areas of privacy for the parents, with areas to rest, play and reflect. The work we have supported also means the garden will be low maintenance and sustainable whilst promoting wildlife, too.”

Chestnut Tree House – which is part of Southern Hospice Group – has cared for more than 1,400 children and young people since it opened in 2003. But hospices across the UK are facing a funding crisis with Hospice UK reporting that two in five are planning cuts to services.

Picture: Right, CEO Stuart Palma speaks at a special event to mark the re-opening of Stars garden.

CEO of Southern Hospice Group Stuart Palma said support from Bupa Foundation and other partners was vital in maintaining a holistic service for families’ needing hospice care as government funding had not kept pace with rising costs.

“It costs almost £9 million to run Chestnut Tree House, with the NHS grant only funding less than a tenth of these costs. Our palliative and end-of-life care is essential for so many families, and spaces like Stars allow us to deliver that specialist care in a setting more appropriate to children and families. We know it means the world to so many, so a huge thank you to everyone at Bupa Foundation for helping us improve this precious place.”

The garden even inspired one family to create their own special memorial garden at home following the death of their daughter Lottie unexpectedly at two years old. Mum Leanne said: “Chestnut Tree House holds a very special place in our hearts. The garden brought us together at a difficult time, from seeing the wildlife, including some resident pigeons in their nest, and spotting ladybirds, too. We found the water feature so relaxing to listen to whilst we were there, we decided to create our very own garden area in memory of Lottie and bought our own version of the feature before we left Chestnut.”