St Godwald's Retreat - GardensDB Browse [ ![](/images/leaf_icon.svg) Gardens**DB** ](https://gardensdb.com) [ Gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) [ Shows ](https://gardensdb.com/shows) [ Studios ](https://gardensdb.com/studios) [ People ](https://gardensdb.com/people) [ Search gardens, designers, shows… ](https://gardensdb.com/search) [ Login ](https://gardensdb.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fgardensdb.com%2Fgardens%2Fst-godwalds-retreat) [ Register ](https://gardensdb.com/register) [ ](https://gardensdb.com/search) Discover - [ Home ](https://gardensdb.com) - [ Gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) - [ Shows ](https://gardensdb.com/shows) - [ Events ](https://gardensdb.com/events) - [ 360° tours ](https://gardensdb.com/360-tours) - [ Trails ](https://gardensdb.com/trails) People & studios - [ People ](https://gardensdb.com/people) - [ Studios ](https://gardensdb.com/studios) - [ Books ](https://gardensdb.com/books) - [ Jobs ](https://gardensdb.com/jobs) Organisations - [ Sponsors ](https://gardensdb.com/sponsors) - [ Charity & non-profits ](https://gardensdb.com/charities) - [ Collectives ](https://gardensdb.com/collectives) - [ Companies ](https://gardensdb.com/companies) - [ Education ](https://gardensdb.com/education-institutions) - [ Nurseries ](https://gardensdb.com/nurseries) Account - [ Login ](https://gardensdb.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fgardensdb.com%2Fgardens%2Fst-godwalds-retreat) - [ Register ](https://gardensdb.com/register) Discover - [ Home Today's highlights ](https://gardensdb.com) - [ Gardens Show gardens, catalogued ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) - [ Shows Horticultural shows ](https://gardensdb.com/shows) - [ Events Festivals, courses & open days ](https://gardensdb.com/events) - [ 360° tours Step inside, long after the show packs up ](https://gardensdb.com/360-tours) - [ Trails Curated routes through the gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/trails) People & studios - [ People Designers, judges, growers ](https://gardensdb.com/people) - [ Studios Design practices ](https://gardensdb.com/studios) - [ Books Recommended reading ](https://gardensdb.com/books) - [ Jobs Roles in the industry ](https://gardensdb.com/jobs) Organisations - [ Sponsors Organisations that back the gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/sponsors) - [ Charity & non-profits Causes behind the gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/charities) - [ Collectives Groups & community projects ](https://gardensdb.com/collectives) - [ Companies Suppliers & contractors ](https://gardensdb.com/companies) - [ Education Schools, colleges & universities ](https://gardensdb.com/education-institutions) - [ Nurseries Plant suppliers & growers ](https://gardensdb.com/nurseries) [ Submit a garden ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens/submit) [ About GardensDB ](https://gardensdb.com/help) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/gardens/st-godwalds-retreat/primary_image.webp) [Gardens](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) / [ RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2025 ](https://gardensdb.com/shows/rhs-malvern-spring-festival-2025) Show Garden ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/awards/rhs-bronze-medal/icon.webp) Bronze Medal St Godwald's Retreat ====================== Designed by Marc Harbourne-Bessant At a glance Show RHS Malvern Spring Festival Year 2025 Category Show Garden Large Show Garden Photo: RHS Malvern About this garden The story ----------- The Garden is inspired by the life and times of St Godwald for whom the church in Bromsgrove, local to the Primrose Hospice & Family Support Centre, is named. Using ancient crafting techniques and influenced by the landscape surrounding the Primrose Hospice, the garden transports us to a space removed from modern life. Within the wattle and daub gazebo sits a ‘wind telephone’ – an opportunity to speak with a loved one that has passed, the wind carrying these words out through the stone portal and into the world beyond. A memory tree from the hospice carries the names and stories of loved ones. A labyrinth formed with scented herbs beneath its branches. Within a wildflower glade beyond there is a space for meditation, or just to lie and be surrounded by the sounds of nature. The garden is punctuated by textured standing stones, inspired by the prehistoric landscape of Brittany that St Godwald knew centuries ago. Award Recognition ------------- - ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/awards/rhs-bronze-medal/icon.webp) Bronze Medal RHS The people behind it Designer ---------- - [ MH Marc Harbourne-Bessant Designer ](https://gardensdb.com/people/marc-harbourne-bessant) Photography Gallery --------- ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/0f8cb185-e601-4f0e-8ad5-3ac028c46b7b/conversions/overview-st-godwalds-1088x612-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/8bbb4ad5-5e6d-48e4-a6c9-100f23b55d3e/conversions/st-godwalds-1-1088x612-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/23d756f0-f6a4-4c77-96c6-4436ec0caca3/conversions/st-godwalds-2-1088x612-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/a7244714-7ccf-4cda-aefd-c1e02e4631d9/conversions/st-godwalds-3-1088x612-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/fe89bfe3-868d-48b2-a068-f5ab869fdb8e/conversions/render-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/ead211d4-1c27-41dd-8af7-8c0243558928/conversions/st-godwalds-4-1088x612-gallery.webp) ![]() / Photo: ![](/images/leaf_icon.svg) Gardens**DB** The world's largest collection of show gardens online, kept free, kept current, and shaped by the community that uses it. 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