Samaritans’ Listening Garden, created to celebrate 70 years of Samaritans, is inspired by the stories of people who found the courage to reach out to Samaritans in their darkest times.
The garden takes visitors on a symbolic journey from the challenging situations people find themselves in when they reach out to Samaritans, to the comforting support of speaking to a volunteer – and being heard.
At the front of the garden, concrete panels are suspended above a planting layer of spiny plants and dark colours. The pathway into the garden appears cracked with deep fissures leading down into blackness and the sound of gushing water.
Stepping through the garden, things become calmer and more open, with water gathering in a pool next to a beautiful collection of Ulmus minor (Jacqueline Hillier), and a sunken level with a sculptural bench that allows two people to sit, talk, listen, and be heard.
Seats positioned throughout the garden remind us that taking time to talk can change our perspective on the world. A bronze figure called Listening, by contemporary artist Andrew Litten, sits in a quiet corner, waiting to hear the thoughts of those who pass through.
Andrew’s expressionist style strives to reflect the conflict and vulnerability of human existence. His work draws on the obscure, with his figures often appearing in some form of isolation. However, with Listening, Andrew also wanted the figure to encourage feelings of human connection.
The key materials in the garden are concrete, steel and oak, and it’s designed to promote environmental responsibility and sustainability through the use of demolition materials and materials salvaged from reclamation yards.
Plants and features from the garden will find a permanent home at several Samaritans branches after the show. There will also be a ‘travelling’ version of the garden that will visit festivals and events this summer.