Caerbladon, in partnership with Fruitful Malmesbury, has created a temporary garden in Birdcage Walk for the Summer months as a place of peaceful contemplation, sociability, sanctuary and immersion in nature. The project is part of the Pride of Place Malmesbury Festival and the garden will host creative activities throughout June including the Big Green Walk, The Meadow Study exhibition by Anna Sellen, painting of the recovered canoe by Majid Adin during Refugee Week and a special Midsummer ‘bee day’ event of family friendly activities led by Anna Sellen, who as well as being an artist is also a beekeeper and honeymaker. Dr Dan Evans, Lecturer in Soil Science at Cranfield University, is excited to have included the UK’s first soil-focused ‘Talking Bench’ in the garden. Soils are ubiquitous in our livelihoods, occupations, and routines. With a third of soils degraded globally, and growing demands for their delivery of ecosystem goods and services, engaging the public about the importance of soils is essential to safeguard these indispensable resources for future generations.  

The Sanctuary Garden, along with other Pride of Place Malmesbury events and activities, is about unlocking the creative potential of our communities, enabling people from diverse backgrounds to participate in and shape cultural provision within their locality. For many centuries Malmesbury has been a place of sanctuary, from Celtic pilgrims to the many Ukrainian refugees currently hosted with local families.

The project is our contribution to MAGIC (Malmesbury Area Green Impact Community) a coalition of committed individuals and groups aiming to increase sustainability and enjoyment of nature in the Malmesbury Area. Special thanks are due to Jumana and Mubashir Akhtar, Karen and David Drake who have created the garden and planted out the herbs and edible plants, provided by local garden centres Foxley Road Nursery and Hortico. Mr Crapper’s Potting Shed have generously donated organic, peat-free compost to the project.

We also thank Malmesbury Town Team, Malmesbury Town Council, Warden and Freeman and the Diocese of Bristol for their support of the project.