The ‘Talitha Arts Garden’ at
St. Margaret’s House
The 'Talitha Arts Garden’ is a celebration of the creative arts and its power to transform lives. It mirrors the work of Talitha Arts and their creative, therapeutic workshops for those who have experienced trauma and injustice. It is a planted canvas; a living installation that speaks of restoration through creativity. Joe & Laura Carey (of Carey Garden Design Studio) designed the 'Talitha Arts Garden', which was funded by Project Giving Back and built by Landcraft Landscape and Design. St. Margaret's House & Talitha Arts share a partnership based on the ethos of the creative arts being a tool for social change and better mental wellbeing, so it is fitting that the 'Talitha Arts Garden' has a permanent home at St. Margaret's House, where it can be enjoyed by the whole community and form a setting for arts and wellbeing activities. The Talitha Art's logo is a butterfly, known for the miraculous transformation it undertakes in its lifecycle, as well as its inner strength to undertake the journey to bring and pollinate life everywhere it goes. This is reflected in the garden with the chrysalis sculpture hand carved from Rosal limestone by artist Teucer Wilson, and the porcelain butterflies handcrafted by artist Naoko Tagai.Gold medal winning garden and best in the 'All About Plants' category at the 2023 RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Jenna, Beccy, Daphne, Sam & Becky in the 'Talitha Arts Garden' during the 2023 Discover Festival at St. Margaret's House Photo by Britt Willoughby Dyer
Joe & Laura Carey, of Carey Garden Design Studio, sitting in the 'Talitha Arts Garden' at St. Margaret's House at the end of the relocation planting
Looking through the planting and one of the two Prunus Serrula trees
Full view of the stage
The 'Talitha Arts Garden' at the 2023 Chelsea Flower Show, where it won a gold medal and 'best' in the 'All About Plants' category
The 'Talitha Arts Garden' inside the pavilion at the 2023 Chelsea Flower Show
The 'best' in the 'All About Plants' category plaque at the 2023 Chelsea Flower Show
Initial illustration of the 'Talitha Arts Garden', by Joe Carey of Carey Garden Design Studio
The 'Talitha Arts Garden'. Photo by Britt Willoughby Dyer
The 'Talitha Arts Garden'. Photo by Britt Willoughby Dyer
The 'Talitha Arts Garden'. Photo by Britt Willoughby Dyer
The 'Talitha Arts Garden'. Photo by Britt Willoughby Dyer
The 'Talitha Arts Garden'. Photo by Britt Willoughby Dyer
The 'Talitha Arts Garden'. Photo by Britt Willoughby Dyer
All about the Plants!
In this series of photos, you see the plants freshly planted into the ground at St. Margaret’s House (June 2023), after being brought here from the Chelsea Flower Show. Over time, these will grow and flower as they settle into their new home and the seasons change. We will update and add to these photos accordingly.
We have added annotations of some of the key plants in each area, which we hope will guide your experience of the plants that make up the ‘Talitha Arts Garden.’
Key information about the ‘Talitha Arts Garden’
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RHS Chelsea Flower Show gardens funded by Project Giving Back need to be inspired by a charity; the work of the charity Talitha Arts has been the inspiration for this garden.
The 'Talitha Arts Garden’ is a celebration of the creative arts and its power to transform lives. It mirrors the work of Talitha Arts and their creative, therapeutic workshops for those who have experienced trauma and injustice. It is a planted canvas, a living installation that speaks of restoration through creativity.
More information about the work of Talitha Arts can be found on their website.
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Joe and Laura Carey, of Carey Garden Design Studio.
More information about their work can be found on their website.
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Project Giving Back funded fifteen Chelsea Flower Show gardens in 2023, including the ‘Talitha Arts Garden’.
Part of their funding stipulation was that the garden needed to be designed for a charity, and have a relocation site for the garden after the show.
Talitha Arts and Carey Garden Design Studio were introduced via one of Talitha Arts’ trustees. Talitha Arts then approached SMH as we established a strong working relationship with them as they deliver some of their workshops here, and our charitable ethos’ align.
More information about Project Giving Back can be found on their website.
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Yes, please do (it’s free!).
The ‘Talitha Arts Garden’ is part of the garden at SMH, accessed via the Gallery Café and a step-free route from Old Ford Road. You can enjoy plant-based food and drink from the Gallery Café whilst enjoying the garden.
Guided Tours:
During the Discover Festival running 24th-30th July, daily tours of the garden will be available as part of the events programme.
In August, we will be running these once a week (check our What’s On page for dates and times).
From September, the guided tours will be available on request via emily@stmargaretshouse.org.uk
Access:
The ‘Talitha Arts Garden’ is located within the SMH garden and is best viewed from a variety of angles, two of which have step-free access (we are working on a third).
The stage within the ‘Talitha Arts Garden’ itself comprises of two levels: the lower section is accessed via the ramp at the Gallery Cafe end of the garden, and the second level is one step up.
Step-free views of the garden:
Position yourself by the low wooden wall and look through the garden and one of the two Prunus Serrula trees to see the chrysalis sculpture and Acer behind it. This is the view most similar to the one people had when they visited the ‘Talitha Arts Garden’ at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, as the whole garden was raised and viewed from a pathway around it, rather than going onto the garden.
Follow the path around the garden towards the Gallery Cafe - veer to the right and use the ramp up onto the grass. As you approach the garden from this direction, you can take in the full scope of the design, with the two Prunus Serrula trees sandwiching the stage and planting. The first level of the gravel stage area is step-free. From this position you have the best view of the ‘Sunny area’ of planting - key plants to look out for are Persicaria bistorta (these are pink bottle-brush like flowers), Luzula ‘Nova’ (these have small white flowers), Geum ‘Bremners Nectarine’ (these have yellow flowers), Deschampsia ‘Goldtau’ (this is a gorgeous grass)
We are currently working on being able to provide step-free access to the rear of the ‘Talitha Arts Garden’, where you will be able to get the best view of the ‘Shaded area’ of planting.
Special thanks to…
Katie’s Garden Plants - for growing the plants (in peat-free soil, as stipulated by the RHS).
Deepdale Trees - for growing the Prunus Serrula trees.
Bury Hill Landscape Supplies - for supplying the soil and bark mulch.
Millworks - for creating the sustainable ‘charred’ timber using their innovative heat pressed roller (rather than using gas to burn the wood). This timber can be seen cladding the retaining wall around the front corner of the ‘Talitha Arts Garden’, with one of the Prunus Serrula trees as the focal point.
Breedon Special Aggregates - for supplying the gravel that fills the staging areas.