The design will create a multi-purpose space with formal areas with lawns and herbaceous borders for social and fund-raising events, as well as wilder areas and ‘rooms’ where people can wander, garden, do tai chi or yoga, chat and relax with colleagues or sit quietly, feasting all the senses. Using photos dating back to the 1920s elements of the original garden will be included as well as echoes of traditional medicinal physic gardens. A water feature, edible forest, scented winter garden, wildflower meadow and memorial garden are all planned (funding permitting) and veg beds and a herb garden will provide the Centre’s users with fresh ingredients and herbal teas. Interpretation panels around the garden will demonstrate how visitors can reduce their carbon footprint, especially by adopting a more healthy planet-friendly diet.

More about the design of the new garden

The original concept design, outlined in March 2022, has been developed following consultation with different stakeholders across the charity and the Trust. The revised design concept has been worked into more detailed plans for hard landscaping and planting which has enabled us to develop a realistic schedule of works and costings. The design aims to:

• Echo the original gardens captured in historic photos dating back to the 1920s
• Create outdoor rooms for people to meet or reflect
• Create multi-purpose spaces for activities, eg knitting, art, and exercise, eg yoga, tai chi, pilates, outdoor gym, gardening
• Provide opportunities for staff to grow their own fruit and veg and learn new skills, eg propagation, and pruning.
• Encourage and support staff to grow their own fruit and veg at home
• Reflect the diversity of cultures among the staff in both planting and hard landscaping, eg tropical summer veg, multi-faith memorial garden, to encourage wide use of the garden by staff
• Local wild nature charity, Nature-Nurture, will run family holiday sessions for staff, including fun low carbon lifestyle activities