Candle lights the way for new Art Garden
15 Jun 2016
The Whitworth to open urban sanctuary to improve mental health
The Whitworth has created a new Art Garden an urban sanctuary within its external grounds, in partnership with Jo Malone London.
Designed by renowned landscape and garden designer Sarah Price, the design of the garden is focused on waves of texture, colour and scent, which reveal themselves throughout the seasons.
The planting scheme includes some of the upmarket scented products retailer’s most-loved ingredients from peonies to bluebells, sage and geranium, to create a richly scented sanctuary.
The garden will be a key space for outdoor events and horticultural activities such as the gallery’s GROW project.
Supported by Jo Malone London and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, an independent grant-making foundation, GROW promotes the benefits of engaging in horticultural activities to improve mental wellbeing. Working together in the garden with professional horticulturalists allows each person to learn new horticultural skills, as well as creating a nurturing sense of community.
One trainee gardener on the scheme said: “I enjoy working together as a team. It has been great fun meeting new people and has helped me to relax and improve my confidence.”
“This project is so special,” Sarah said.
“The first time I visited the Whitworth, I was struck by the creative and warm, open atmosphere. The whole space has a dynamic energy; it really is a meeting point beneath the trees; a place to pause and linger.”
The Art Garden - to be officially opened on Thursday, 23 June - will be cultivated and cared for through the sale of a Jo Malone London Charity Candle. This year it is Peony and Moss, with a donation equal to 75% of the retail price (less VAT) going directly to the charities the company works with.
More information
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