The Secret Memorial Garden is a magical space in Great Torrington, tucked away behind the town centre shops and main car park.  It was created in 2002 from an original design by Jo Winterburn as a memorial to five young boys, evacuees of the Second World War, who tragically lost their lives in a fire close by at Sydney House.  In the centre of the garden is a bronze statue of a boy reading a book: a touching tribute to the boys who lost their lives.  There is a central knot garden containing herbs such as marjoram, cotton lavender, sage and thyme, all planted in compartments between low box hedging.  Benches are scattered through the garden so that visitors can relax and appreciate this special oasis in the middle of the town.

The Secret Memorial Garden was originally designated a Silent Space on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons to provide local people living with dementia with a tranquil place to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of nature.  Although the Dementia Friendly group who originally established the Silent Space has been disbanded, the area is still an oasis of calm in a bustling town and is available Mondays through to Saturdays for quiet reflection.

Image © Great Torrington Town Council