Image: Chiswick House Rosary (Shot by Amol)
An early 19th-century Rosary will serve as a free space to focus on improved mental health
An early 19th-century Rosary will serve as a free space to focus on improved mental health
Meta description: Chiswick House’s early 19th-century Rosary, believed to be England’s first rose garden, designated as Silent Space for mental health and quiet contemplation.
Chiswick House & Gardens Trust has designated its historic rose garden as a Silent Space, marking the first time such an initiative has been implemented in a public park.
The early 19th-century garden, believed to be England’s first rose garden, is now set aside for quiet contemplation in nature.
The Silent Space initiative, which began in 2016, promotes the creation of biodiverse areas where visitors can seek respite from daily pressures. The designation represents a novel approach to utilising historic garden spaces for contemporary wellbeing purposes whilst maintaining their heritage value.
The Rosary was originally created for Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, and draws inspiration from French gardens designed for scent, colour and pleasure. Located within the Trust’s 65-acre west London gardens, the space now houses over 100 heritage roses alongside wildflower areas.
The trust said the location’s proximity to recently rejuvenated woodland areas, developed to boost biodiversity and support wildlife, was selected after research suggesting benefits to mental health from purposeful quiet time in natural settings.
Chiswick House & Gardens Trust said the initiative aligns with its commitment to community service, ensuring free access to green space for residents in Hounslow and the wider west London area. The Silent Space operates daily throughout the year.
Liz Ware, founder of the Silent Space project, said: “Most of us realise that taking 5 minutes to reflect quietly in nature is restful and restorative. In a world where constant communication is the norm, it feels good to step back and press ‘pause’. But how many of us make the time to do it? A big ‘thank you’ to the hardworking Chiswick team for giving us permission and the opportunity to switch off in such a beautiful place. Welcome to Silent Space. It’s great to have you with us.”
Rosie Fyles, Head of Gardens at Chiswick House & Gardens Trust and a Trustee of the Silent Space Charity, added:“Silence and reflection is what some people seek in a garden, and I am very happy that we have developed such a beautiful, historic space to have this atmosphere and purpose. Our planting and caring for the garden will continue to be inspired by its history and support biodiversity too.”
