St Godwald's Retreat
An RHS Malvern Spring Festival Show Garden 2025
Designed and built by F.B & Sons for Primrose Hospice & Family Support Centre
About St Godwald’s Retreat
St Godwald’s Retreat is a garden designed as a space for reflection, remembrance, and mindful retreat. Inspired by the landscape surrounding Primrose Hospice, as well as the life and history of St Godwald, the garden transports visitors to a place removed from modern distractions—a sanctuary shaped by nature, tradition, and memory.
At the heart of the design are ancient crafting techniques and reclaimed materials, echoing a time when gardens were built with what was available locally, with minimal impact on the land. The wattle and daub gazebo, standing stones, and traditional chestnut fencing connect the garden to the past, while the labyrinth and wildflower glade encourage quiet contemplation.
A key feature of the garden is the wind telephone, offering a space to speak to those we have lost, carried by the wind through the moon arch into the world beyond. The memory tree, temporarily relocated from Primrose Hospice, holds the names and stories of loved ones, grounding the garden in its purpose—to provide a place for people to process grief, honour memories, and find comfort in the presence of nature.
Every element of St Godwald’s Retreat has been chosen with care, balancing environmental responsibility with a deep sense of history and meaning. Explore the sections below to learn more about the unique materials and features that bring this garden to life.
