Edward Hain Centre to Open Wellness Walled Garden on 18th April

A newly restored outdoor space at The Edward Hain Centre in St Ives is set to open to the public later this month, offering a calm place designed for relaxation and reflection.

The Centre has confirmed that its new Wellness Walled Garden will officially open on Thursday 18th April, with visitors invited to attend between 11:00am and 3:00pm.

A space designed for wellbeing

The garden has been carefully developed to give visitors a place to unwind, reflect, and reconnect with nature. During the opening day, guests will be able to explore the space at their own pace and take part in gentle sensory experiences aimed at promoting relaxation.

Quiet seating areas will be available for those wanting time to pause, while visitors can also plant a seed to take home or leave messages of hope and encouragement on the Wellness Wish Tree.

What to expect on the day

Volunteers from the Centre will be on hand to welcome visitors throughout the event. Food and refreshments will be available, including tea and cakes from the café and a BBQ run by Chris from The Food Bank.

Inside the Centre, a visual display will highlight the transformation of the garden, featuring before, during and after photographs. Other activities planned for the day include a plant sale, workshops, and a garden-themed raffle.

Families are also being catered for, with seed planting and pot or stone decorating activities taking place.

Support from the community

St Ives Mayor, Councillor Johnnie Wells, said: “It’s great to see these previously unused areas of The Edward Hain Centre coming back to life. Thank you to everyone who made this happen.”

The project has been supported by funding from the LHC Community Benefit Fund in association with Locality.

What happens after opening day

Following the event, the Wellness Walled Garden will remain open as a peaceful outdoor space for the community. People will be able to spend time gardening on their own, with friends, or as part of small groups helping to maintain the space.

There are also plans to support volunteer-led gardening and wellbeing sessions as interest develops, creating an environment for both visitors and staff to enjoy.

About The Edward Hain Centre

The Edward Hain Centre is a community-focused wellbeing hub based in the former Edward Hain Memorial Hospital in St Ives. It works with local partners, volunteers and organisations to provide programmes, activities and spaces that support physical, mental and social wellbeing for people of all ages.