30th May 2022

On Saturday Denise and I visited the Chelsea Flower show.  We had never been before, and I would certainly recommend it to everyone – beauty as far as the eye can see.

The outdoor show gardens are designed and created specifically for the show. Each garden is designed around the individual planner’s ‘vision’ and each has a message for the public. Every garden is different. Some are vibrant with many colours, some are simpler with only one or two colours. Many have water features. You stop, look, listen, read and briefly chat to a stranger stood next to you as you share that special moment.

All of the gardens were breath-taking, but the one that stood out to us was the ‘Putting Down Roots Garden’ designed on behalf of the charity, St. Mungo’s. You may recall the name St. Mungo’s. This is the leading charity that we work with at Tyndale for the Winter Night Shelter Project. The Putting Down Roots Garden is a project providing horticultural therapy and training to people in recovery from homelessness. The project believes that by teaching people to nurture plants, they can learn to nurture themselves. Over 21 years this project has supported hundreds of people to learn new skills and rebuild their lives. A simple idea but having such a powerful effect on people.

A real link between us and strangers. A reminder how powerful the effect can be between the work we do in a kitchen and B & B in Bristol and people all over the country.

Matthew 25:40. ‘The truth is, anything you did for any of my people, you also did for me.’

Graham Lewis