Police name newborn baby found abandoned in Greater Manchester woodland as hunt for mother continues

Police have given a name to a newborn baby found dead in the woods as they revealed more information about the child’s abandonment.

Detectives in Manchester revealed they have named the baby girl Pearl as they continued to appeal for information about her mother.

The naked body of the baby was found by a dog walker at around 7.10am on Wednesday April 4 in an area known locally as Bluebell Forest, part of Roch Valley Woods in Heywood, Greater Manchester.

Two weeks on police are still unable to identify the mother of the infant or determine how the baby came to be abandoned in the remote area of woodland.

Detective Chief Inspector Lewis Hughes, leading the investigation for Greater Manchester Police (GMP), said that, despite public appeals, "very, very limited information" had been forthcoming.

He said officers had established that the girl was white but may have some mixed race heritage in her family, and they had named her Pearl to give her an identity.

The cause of her death is still unknown and further tests are being carried out. It is also not yet known if the infant, described as a "fully developed baby", was born alive but then died, or was stillborn before being abandoned, unclothed, with no blanket or nappy.

Police also do not know how long the body had been there before being discovered and officers again appealed for witnesses who may have seen something suspicious.

Although the area is heavily used by locals, the remote location means there is no CCTV and opportunities for witnesses are limited, police said.

Appealing for the public's help, Mr Hughes said: "It is important, we feel, that she is given an identity. We also feel that the name we have chosen, which is Pearl, which means precious, has an appropriate meaning.

"Obviously all children are precious and this child who has been found in the woods is no different.

"What is clear though is whatever happened to the baby, however her life came to an end, either inside or outside of the womb, someone has come and abandoned her in the woodland in quite awful circumstances.

"Lack of compassion or regard for the baby is quite concerning."

He said the priorities for the investigation are still to find out who left the baby in the woods, who the mother is and the family the child is from, and how and why she was abandoned.

He added: "We won't forget about baby Pearl and the investigation into what happened to her will continue. It is our responsibility to find the answers and we will do everything we can to do just that.

"I believe someone somewhere knows who the parents are and they may be reluctant to come forward.

"I implore you, please, if you have heard anything, seen anything or know anything - even if it is the tiniest detail - please just let us know."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0161 856 4810 or 07387 705768, quoting incident number 368 of 04/04/18. Reports can also be made anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.