Islington has a new inspiring, restful place in the centre of the city – Islington’s first Word Garden.
The tranquil oasis in Kings Square Gardens was launched yesterday (Wednesday, 6 June) as part of this month’s Word2018 Festival, which celebrates the power of words and reading.
Designed by local older people at St Luke’s Centre, working with All Change, the Word Garden is inspired by memories and stories of the park and local area.
It features special benches customised with poetry, a new games table and a new planting scheme. The new planting will add colour and fragrances, designed to enable people who have sensory impairments to enjoy spending time in the space.
The garden is designed to look beautiful in all seasons, and to be a place for everyone in the community to enjoy and spend time together. The garden will be looked after by the council’s parks service and local community working together.
The garden was a collaboration between Islington Council’s library and parks services; St. Luke’s Community Centre and All Change artists Carl Stevenson and Francesca Beard. It is part of the Bunhill Ward Improvement Plan with investment from Bunhill councillors’ 106 funding and Arts Council of England funding.
The garden was officially launched by local residents and guests including children from King Square Nursery with Islington Mayor, Cllr Dave Poyser and local Cllr Claudia Webbe, who helped bring together different partner organisations to make the project happen.
Cllr Asima Shaikh, executive member for economic development, said: “Words have the power to transform lives, and our Word2018 festival is an exciting celebration of that.
“Islington’s new Word Garden at Kings Square Gardens is a quiet, restful space in the heart of the city for residents. It is a perfect spot to reflect, get inspiration and find peace from the words, plants and flowers within it.
“A huge thanks to our partners at St Luke’s Community Centre and All Change who made this happen. I invite all of our residents to visit, and look out for all the other fantastic activities happening this June as part of the festival.”
The garden uses unique therapy approaches such as bibliotherapy using books to help people solve issues they may face and ecotherapy aiming to promote mental and physical wellbeing in a green environment.
The Word Festival continues until 30 June. For more information, or for details of all the festival events visit @WordIslington orwww.wordfestivalislington.co.uk and view the brochure. Alternatively, pick up a copy in one of Islington’s 10 libraries and other venues.
Islington has a new inspiring, restful place in the centre of the city – Islington’s first Word Garden.
The tranquil oasis in Kings Square Gardens was launched yesterday (Wednesday, 6 June) as part of this month’s Word2018 Festival, which celebrates the power of words and reading.
Designed by local older people at St Luke’s Centre, working with All Change, the Word Garden is inspired by memories and stories of the park and local area.
It features special benches customised with poetry, a new games table and a new planting scheme. The new planting will add colour and fragrances, designed to enable people who have sensory impairments to enjoy spending time in the space.
The garden is designed to look beautiful in all seasons, and to be a place for everyone in the community to enjoy and spend time together. The garden will be looked after by the council’s parks service and local community working together.
The garden was a collaboration between Islington Council’s library and parks services; St. Luke’s Community Centre and All Change artists Carl Stevenson and Francesca Beard. It is part of the Bunhill Ward Improvement Plan with investment from Bunhill councillors’ 106 funding and Arts Council of England funding.
The garden was officially launched by local residents and guests including children from King Square Nursery with Islington Mayor, Cllr Dave Poyser and local Cllr Claudia Webbe, who helped bring together different partner organisations to make the project happen.
Cllr Asima Shaikh, executive member for economic development, said: “Words have the power to transform lives, and our Word2018 festival is an exciting celebration of that.
“Islington’s new Word Garden at Kings Square Gardens is a quiet, restful space in the heart of the city for residents. It is a perfect spot to reflect, get inspiration and find peace from the words, plants and flowers within it.
“A huge thanks to our partners at St Luke’s Community Centre and All Change who made this happen. I invite all of our residents to visit, and look out for all the other fantastic activities happening this June as part of the festival.”
The garden uses unique therapy approaches such as bibliotherapy using books to help people solve issues they may face and ecotherapy aiming to promote mental and physical wellbeing in a green environment.
The Word Festival continues until 30 June. For more information, or for details of all the festival events visit @WordIslington orwww.wordfestivalislington.co.uk and view the brochure. Alternatively, pick up a copy in one of Islington’s 10 libraries and other venues.
