A few years ago become aware of a project called ‘Silent Space’.  The simple aim of the project is to encourage garden owners to set aside an area where visitors can enjoy peace and quiet without noise or chatter or mobile phones.  We know that many visitors to our garden appreciate the tranquillity which our garden as a whole offers, so we thought we would find out more about this project.  Here are a few snippets from the Silent Space website…

There’s nothing complicated about a Silent Space.  It’s an area of a garden or a park, already enjoyed by the public, that is reserved for silent visiting.  While some gardens run their space for as little as a few hours a week, others are permanent.

Once inside a Silent Space, we stop talking, turn off our phones and cameras, and switch off from social media. There are no other rules.

Whether sitting or strolling, we take time to notice the beauty around us.  Even as little as five minutes will help us to enjoy the restorative benefits of being peaceful in a green place.

Our lives are often hectic. It can be difficult, particularly for those of us who live in urban areas, to find five minutes peace.

As the understanding of the benefits of spending quiet time in green places grows, so does the number of gardens taking part. 

We have designated an area of our garden as a ‘silent space’.  

Our Silent Space used to be a simple rustic bench alongside the Grwyne Fawr river, a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) designated for salmon and otter.  

But this winter we have made a new Silent Space. Our good friend Mick Petts (designer and maker of the Natural Swimming Pond, Cedric and Hartsrise tree sculptures) has come up with a new place to ‘switch off’.

In Mick’s words: Last October Sue asked me to rethink the garden’s Silent Space which was then a solitary bench facing towards the river. 

‘There’s nothing complicated about a Silent Space. It’s rather like the quiet carriage on a train. A biodiverse area of a garden or a park, already enjoyed by the public, is reserved for silent reflection. Once inside a Silent Space, we take time to reflect and are respectful of other people who are doing the same.’ 

Around the same time and just down the road a section of mixed woodland had been clear felled and the corded softwood stacked in a long pile. 

The undulating and tapering shape of the stack seeded the idea for a new form of seat for Nant-y-bedd. Combined with Sue and Ian’s willingness to innovate, this has given rise to a dual aspect seat, the ‘Chaise Log’. 

We call it the Chaise Log and ask you to sit / lie on it and listen to the river and the birds. Recently we ‘logged’ (pun unintended!) over a dozen different bird species whilst sitting there.

Please enjoy our new Silent Space … but try not to fall asleep….

We usually suggest a route around the garden which takes you over the rope bridge to the pond, then down via the treehouse to the river walk. If you do this and return along the forest paths, you will come to our new Silent Space.

You can alternatively, take the path from the Potager through the inviting gate flanked by Cedric, who welcomes you to the forest, Coed y Bedd.  But you might be missing some other lovely bits of the garden.

The gentle path leads you through majestic trees. Just turn left at the crocodile!  

Here, you can sit above the river flowing by and listen to the birds and the wind in the trees.  Breathe in the scents of the forest and soak up the peace and tranquillity. 

A perfect spot to recharge the batteries.

Available any day that the garden is open.