Green and serene

This month Annabelle Padwick offers some ideas on how to create that special space in your garden or on your allotment for peace and contemplation

- Annabelle Padwick

These spaces are fantastic and give us an area to play and grow, as well as perhaps an ‘in’ with getting to know our local community or neighbours. But, throughout having my allotment and towpath garden I have definitely had moments where I do wish I had a more private space. I’ve wondered if I would feel less pressured about how tidy everything looks and if I’m doing it in everyone’s ‘right’ way. Because, let’s face it, I’m sure many of us have been told once, twice, or maybe even more, how we should be gardening.

I also think it would be lovely to be able to just sit and relax, or do my own thing without strangers’ eyes on me. Not for any other reason than because it would be nice.

But a private garden is not possible just yet while trying to work and save hard for a mortgage. So, I have had to come up with ways to create privacy and also fully tune into what I’m doing so that someone passing by doesn’t stop my relaxation. That being said, I do believe it’s all about a balance as it definitely feels good when a walker comments on how much the towpath garden lifts their spirits when they go on their daily walk.

CREATING A SPACE

I like to look at achieving relaxing and mindful moments in two ways, mentally and practically. By this I mean changing my mindset and making physical changes to the garden.

Let’s start with the physical things we can do to help make the whole area, or at least a particular area, more private.