Award-winning garden inspires children at new home

13 hours ago

Matthew LockwoodBedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire

Elements of the garden were created through workshops with teenagers

Central Bedfordshire Council A close up of the outdoor garden alongside a light-coloured brick wall on the right. A gravel path winds through the planting, creating a walkway from the lower right foreground into the middle of the garden. — Elements of the garden were created through workshops with teenagers

An award-winning garden designed to support young people and their families has officially opened in its new home.

The sanctuary, created for The Children's Society by designer Patrick Clarke, has been rebuilt in Bedfordshire after winning gold at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

The society said it hoped the garden, now based at its youth centre in Vandyke Road, Leighton Buzzard, would shine "a light on the growing crisis in young people's mental health and wellbeing".

Jo Goldsmith from the charity said: "It's wonderful to see the garden bedding in and settling into its permanent home. The children are having a brilliant time getting involved in its upkeep."

The garden features repurposed discarded materials

Central Bedfordshire Council The garden is positioned alongside a building with contrasting wall finishes. One is made of timber shingles, with a panel of corrugated metal sheeting with prominent rust staining in the centre. — The garden features repurposed discarded materials

The green space, which was inspired by the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, has already been used for youth work sessions.

It will support a range of activities, including gardening projects and wellbeing initiatives.

Gareth Mackey, Central Bedfordshire Council's executive member for children and families, said: "Planting a tree is one of the most hopeful things we can do, and I'm excited to see how this space grows with the young people and families who use it.

"The garden is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when organisations work together with a shared commitment to supporting children, young people and families."