Lulla-Bye

This is the latest Andy Scott (Kelpies) sculpture in Princes Street Gardens.  I didn't pick the easiest of days to photograph it as the light was very challenging and I notice I've got a bit of flair in this one.

The idea behind this one is a particularly sad tale.   It is a memorial to babies whose ashes were dumped at Mortonhall Cemetry.    For nearly 40 years the ashes of at least 250 cremated babies were buried in secret.   Grieving parents were told there were no ashes for them to bury. 

A public enquiry took place and one of the many recommendations was a memorial for the grieving parents.  A more sombre memorial garden was built at Mortonhall but as many parents had vowed never to return there, it was decided to commission this one.

The idea was to produce a statue that would be loved by children and also it has the elephant's 'never forget' theme.  To add to that theme it has flowers engraved all over the body  -  forget-me-nots.