Butterfly Garden
Project Name: Butterfly Garden
Client: Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn
Supporting Organisation: QEHKL Charity
Project Type: Memorial / Therapeutic Garden Design
Date Completed: July 2024
Location: King’s Lynn, Norfolk
Client: Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn
Supporting Organisation: QEHKL Charity
Project Type: Memorial / Therapeutic Garden Design
Date Completed: July 2024
Location: King’s Lynn, Norfolk
Project Overview.....
The Butterfly Garden is a memorial space I designed for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn to support families who have experienced baby loss. The aim was to create a peaceful, non-clinical environment where families could reflect and remember in a setting that feels calm, natural, and emotionally supportive. The design combines symbolic elements with sensitive planting choices to create a space that is both meaningful and restorative.
Design & Symbolism.....
A key feature of the garden is the memorial wall, where families can place a handcrafted metal butterfly symbolising a lost baby. This central element creates a shared focal point of remembrance while allowing each tribute to represent an individual story.
Families are also able to position butterflies in their own chosen spots throughout the garden, giving them a sense of personal connection and ownership within the space.
The layout follows one main curved pathway, designed to gently guide visitors through the space. Two smaller paths branch from this central route — one leading to a quiet seating area for private reflection, and the other leading to the memorial wall. The curved forms soften the structure of the garden, creating a natural flow and reinforcing the calm, supportive atmosphere of the space.
Planting Concept & Meaning.....
The planting scheme was intentionally centred around purple tones, as purple is the recognised colour of baby loss awareness. Species such as verbena and other purple flowering plants were selected not only to reflect this symbolic colour but also to attract butterflies, reinforcing the garden’s core motif.
By combining awareness symbolism with ecological planting, the garden becomes both a living habitat and a place of remembrance. The movement of real butterflies within the space adds a gentle sense of life and transformation, strengthening the emotional impact of the design while maintaining a peaceful atmosphere
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