Cherished babies remembered

Dozens of butterflies were released at Dunollie Castle on Saturday in memory of babies who have died.

A short ceremony took place before the release, which featured songs by the Ladies Sequence Choir and poetry from bereaved parents.

Susan Simpson of SiMBA said: ‘We have 19 adults and 12 children joining the SiMBA team this year to release butterflies in a beautiful act of remembrance for babies gone too soon.’

Speaking at the event, Susan said: ‘We understand each of us has experienced the pain of missing our child’s first words, first steps, first day at school, so many firsts.

‘We recognise the strength that each bereaved heart has and we are determined that we will acknowledge our beautiful children.’

Throughout this event participants were busy holding and warming up their butterflies to wake them from hibernation.

Following the ceremony, it was time to release the painted ladies and tortoiseshell butterflies.

Some flew to the foliage surrounding Dunollie Museum, Castle and Grounds straight away, while others took longer to get going.

The butterflies were bred especially for SiMBA in sterile conditions by an awardwinning entomologist.

Susan said: ‘They have no impact on native species and will acclimatise and settle for a period in these gorgeous gardens. They will feed, mate and eventually migrate to South Africa – such strength in such a wee fragile creature.

‘That, to me, speaks about the fragility and strength in each one of us.’

SiMBA is a charity established in 2005 to support parents affected by the loss of a baby.