Meet the people behind the project…
Trustees
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Liz is the founder of Silent Space. She worked in the City and abroad, then retrained while her family was young. She is a garden writer and historian, a member of the Garden Media Guild and a former trustee of The Association of Gardens Trusts (now The Gardens Trust). From 2015-19, she was a committee member of the Landscape Gardens and Health Network. Liz developed the concept of Silent Space over many years, culminating in a successful pilot in 2016.
Liz Ware
Angie-Butterfield
Angie has a background in education, horticulture and charity work. Her research has focused on the relationship between gardens/green space, health and wellbeing. Her PhD was based on the gardens at Maggie’s Cancer Care Centres. She was a committee member of the Landscape, Gardens and Health Network (2015-19). Angie is currently based in rural Southern Spain and brings an international research perspective to the trustee board.
Angie Butterfield
Yolanda-Goldthorpe
As a retired teacher, Yolanda brings many years’ experience of working as part of a team. She recently completed several years as treasurer and trustee of another charity. Her experience of visiting gardens as a member of the public adds an essential dimension to trustee discussions and decision making.
Yolanda Goldthorpe
TrusteepicGaryweb4
Gary is a horticulturalist with experience of heritage garden management and landscape restoration. He has worked in private and charitable gardens and presently as gardens and parklands consultant for the National Trust. Prior to this he ran the grounds team at Compton Verney House Trust where he set up a Silent Space in the historic landscape. As more galleries and museums express an interest in offering a Silent Space in their grounds, his experience of working within this sector becomes increasingly important.
Gary Webb
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Rosie is Head of Gardens Chiswick House and Gardens Trust. Having worked in the National Trust for almost 10 years, latterly as Head Gardener of Ham House and Garden, Rosie began her working life in marketing and communications. Known for her wildlife-friendly, climate-conscious approach to developing historic gardens, Rosie has contributed widely in print and broadcast media most recently writing a series for domestic gardeners in Period Living magazine. At Chiswick House and Gardens Trust, Rosie is part of a team leading an innovative approach to inclusivity in gardens through community engagement, free access, and a large-scale improvement of facilities. The first Silent Space in a public garden will open at Chiswick in summer 2023.
Rosie Fyles
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Faith has a background in nursing. She retrained in horticulture, working initially for Horticap. She is curator at Thorp Perrow, an independent arboretum in Yorkshire where she also works as garden projects’ leader for Help for Heroes, Phoenix House Recovery Centre. Faith was one of the first in the UK to explore Forest bathing which she now offers as a therapeutic activity for Help for Heroes, corporate groups, and the general public. There has been a Silent Space at Thorp Perrow since 2017. (Image ©Charlotte Graham)
Faith Douglas
Patron and Ambassadors
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We are proud to have Advolly Richmond as the Patron of Silent Space. Advolly has an MA in Garden History, is a trustee of the Welsh Historic Gardens Trust and also sits on the Gardens Trust Education Committee. “I often have the privilege of spending time in historic public gardens virtually on my own. As Patron, I wholeheartedly agree with Liz’s sentiment that, if you can have a quiet carriage on a train, then why not a silent or quiet space in a garden?”
Advolly Richmond
Garden, Landscape and Social Historian
advolly.co.uk
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Through arts work, teaching and research, Richard explores practical ways of connecting people with quiet. “Spending time in quiet has numerous benefits for our health and wellbeing. Critically today, quiet spaces afford us an opportunity to ‘unplug’ from the distractions of the ‘attention economy’, giving us the distance to reflect, notice, focus or simply let our minds wander. In disconnecting from distraction, we can connect with ourselves, the environment and each other. I’m honoured to be an ambassador for Silent Space, promoting the excellent work they do.”
Richard Bentley
Sound Artist
A Noisy Silence
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Heather taught Science at Secondary Level before starting a family. She retrained in horticulture and developed a business in garden maintenance and design. After volunteering at two National Trust properties to gain experience, she worked at Sizergh Castle and Garden. She is now Senior Gardener at Acorn Bank where she manages a large volunteer team. A Silent Space has been running at Acorn Bank since 2017.
Heather Birkett
Senior Gardener NT Acorn Bank
Acorn Bank
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Sybil has lived in Argyll for over 26 years. Relocating from Edinburgh, she enjoys the gentler, quieter life Argyll has to offer. In 2007, Sybil began to work at Benmore Botanic Garden. A varied role, she enjoys working with Benmore’s Garden Guides, Committee, and interacting with members and visitors. Benmore is a regional garden of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and became the first Garden in Scotland to join Silent Space in 2017.
Sybil Gray
Admin Officer, Benmore Botanic Garden
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Barbara edits magazines (The Horticulturist for the Chartered Institute of Horticulture; Suffolk Gardens Trust Newsletter), is the author of 12 books, the latest of which is Secret Gardens of East Anglia (Frances Lincoln 2017) and blogs via The Garden Post website. Barbara is an Assistant County Organiser for the National Garden Scheme in Suffolk (posting on social media to promote gardens in the county). She is a Member of the charity Perennial and serves on two of its committees. Barbara is a Freeman of the City of London and a member of one of the City’s livery companies, The Worshipful Company of Gardeners. “Garden visiting is a privilege and it is wonderful to sample a garden quietly just as if you were in your own garden with birdsong and the buzz of bees as the playlist.”
Barbara Segall
Horticulturist, Garden Writer, Horticultural Editor
thegardenpost.com
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Pat describes herself as a ‘home grown’ head gardener after spending much of her childhood at Waterperry where the amazing Beatrix Havergal had her School of Horticulture for women. Having been called as a child ‘my youngest student’ by Beatrix, Pat went on to train at Waterperry with Mary Spiller, eventually becoming Head Gardener in 2010. “I am very proud to have been one of the first gardens to introduce a Silent Space – now one of the most important spaces in the gardens.” Image © Mark Lord Photography
Pat Havers
Head Gardener, Waterperry Gardens
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Peter Dawe has been the Youth Community Greening Coordinator for the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney, Australia since 2014 and has been delivering environmental education to students and communities for the last 30 years. This experience combined with a Masters of Environmental Management, Bachelor of Education and Diploma of Sustainability provides him with the expertise, knowledge and passion to deliver such an important message and program. Peter is working in partnership with Silent Space in school gardens in New South Wales.
Peter Dawe
Youth Community Greening Coordinator, Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney, Australia
Tara-Dalton
Tara Dalton is a garden designer operating in the UK and in South Africa. Originally from Cape Town, Tara worked as an Environment and Planning Lawyer in Australia before moving to London. She studied garden design and horticulture in preparation for setting up her Kent-based company, Tara Dalton Garden Design Limited, which specialises in sustainable, naturalistic country gardens. Tara is a member of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture.
Tara Dalton
Garden Designer.
taradalton.com
SilentSpaceKatherineAlkerweb
Katherine believes in the healing nature of the great outdoors, whether it’s a small back garden, local park, wide open beach or a woodland. She believes that everyone should be able to access nature and green spaces easily. Katherine has worked for the National Trust since 2003, and has been at Croome since 2006, restoring the garden and park to ‘Capability’ Brown’s inspirational design. Croome is proud to have been working with Silent Space since the 2016 pilot.
Katherine Alker
NT Garden and Outdoors Manager South Worcestershire Properties
