Mindfulness & Wellbeing Garden – RHS Chatsworth
BRIEF
The Reflective Mind Garden was designed for the RHS Chatsworth Flower Show 2019 for Thrive, the charity that uses gardening to support health and wellbeing. The garden was awarded an RHS Silver-Gilt medal.
It was conceived for a couple who might use the space individually or together: somewhere peaceful to pause, sit, meditate and find inspiration.
The brief called for beautiful planting and a garden that felt both restorative and thought-provoking, allowing visitors to step away from the pressures of everyday life and experience the benefits of spending time in nature.
The design therefore explored how a mindfulness and wellbeing garden could use planting, water, sculpture and carefully considered views to encourage stillness, reflection and a deeper connection with the natural world.
DESIGN SOLUTION
The focal point is a 1.8-metre-high bronze face sculpture by Simon Gudgeon, positioned against a layered backdrop of trees and planting.
The sculpture is reflected in an infinity pool, representing the way mindfulness allows us to step back and observe our own thoughts and feelings.
Three multi-stem Prunus serrula deliberately obscure the sculpture from certain viewpoints. As visitors move through the garden, their perception changes — reflecting the idea that our own experience and expectations can filter the way we see reality.
The combination of reflection, filtered views, planting, sculpture and water creates a contemplative sensory experience rather than revealing everything at once: an approach to wellbeing garden design centred on slowing down, noticing and reconnecting with nature.
The BBC filmed the garden and we were delighted with Adam Frost’s review:
Here is a video of Richard discussing how the ‘Leaf Spirit’ sculpture inspired the garden. Richard has also written a blog on why gardens are good for us.
