I have always been amazed by the mystery and
power of creation, the colours, textures and beauty as well as the immensity of
it all. As a child I read ‘The Secret Garden’, never imagining that years later
our home, at the edge of woodland, would see the creation of a Quiet Garden.
In November 1996 we were able to purchase a
plot of derelict land adjoining our family home. I remember that morning. It
was frosty and the excitement was hard to contain as we clambered over the
dividing fence into the rather wild plot. Exciting and daunting. Our garden had
doubled in size and so had the problems! There was soil erosion, dead or dying
trees, shoulder high bracken, poor soil condition and the over-riding question
– ‘What do we do now?’
Apart from the clearance of bracken and
dangerous trees, we began to plan who or what the garden was for. We found that
the best way of doing this was to spend time, together, alone and with the
children, just being outside – letting the lie of the ground, the remaining
trees and the hidden places speak to us. Here was a place that had natural
paths and dens, hidden by brambles. Here was a place which had stillness and
yet a playfulness about it. It became clear that this was a prayerful yet
playful place; somewhere for quiet contemplation as well as hide and seek; a
place in which to be alone or with others.
With this vision of ‘prayerful yet playful’ in
mind, ideas began to form. The initial work took two years. The result has been
an informal woodland garden with a simple spiral prayer walk, a wildlife pond,
places to sit and a wendy house in which to play and pray! It has been a
privilege to have such an opportunity for creativity and over the years we have
become increasingly conscious of the interconnectedness of creation and the presence
of God as the source of all life in and through all. This awareness and a sense
that this garden was to be shared led us to become Quiet Gardeners; we have
been affiliated to the Quiet Garden Trust since 1999. Our home and garden is
open on a monthly basis and offers a ministry of welcome in this place of
prayer, play and presence.
The Quiet Garden movement, founded in 1992
was the vision of Philip Roderick and has grown to over 300 gardens worldwide,
in homes, schools, churches, hospitals and more recently in the prison service.
Each home, garden and host is unique – large and small, rural and urban, open
regularly or occasionally. Details of the movement, its vision, how to become a
Quiet Garden and contact details for gardens worldwide are available from: The
Quiet Garden Trust, Clare charity Centre, Wycombe Road, Saunderton, Bucks, UK,
HP14 4BF. Tel: 01494 569057. Email: info@quietgarden.org.
Web: www.quietgarden.org
Jesus said:
Come with me by
yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.
Mark 6:31
Tessa
Holland
July
2013
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