Our garden is registered with The Quiet Garden Movement as a place to
come and find peace, rest, solitude and tranquillity. It is a place of
wellness and wholeness, offering space for reflection and mindfulness; a
place in which to be refreshed and restored spiritually, emotionally,
physically and mentally.
Our garden is situated in the heart of Dalby
Forest, itself an extensive wild environment.
Comprising over six acres,
it offers
great variety within its well-defined boundaries. It is possible to ‘lose’
oneself in its many distinct spaces. Bridges span the lively stream which
divides woodland from the grassed area and small lake. Closer to the house
are herbaceous borders and patios. Scattered around the whole garden are
seats and benches, and meandering paths. Many of these paths are now decked,
although we would still advise guests to wear stout shoes.
There is a
further decked area tucked in a corner of the beck affectionately known as
Kingfisher corner.
By the waterfall there is a covered arbour, and in
the centre of the wild area is a Reading Room, a summer house with sofa and
writing desk away from mobile phone signal.
A recent addition is the
Observatory, a polycarbonate dome to observe the
magnificent dark skies.
Bird life is prolific. Buzzards regularly
soar overhead, moorhens and ducks populate the lake, and finches,
woodpeckers, wagtails, are seen daily. Heron and kingfisher visit beck and
lake, giving rise to the cottage names and warblers, dippers, tree creepers
and flycatchers all have nesting sites here.
Wildflowers too are
prolific. In May 2021 a guest identified 83 types of wildflower. In spring
the banks are covered in hundreds of snowdrops, daffodils and bluebells.
By contrast the labyrinth offers a calm ordered space.
The garden
remains a work in progress and is unlikely ever to be fully manicured.
A booklet of mediations on the garden highlights is available, as are
prayer and liturgical resources.
We pray that all who visit the
garden will be refreshed, restored, and re-energised in finding the
blessings of God’s peace afforded by this unique environment.
https://quietgarden.org