The ancient Church of St John the Baptist, near Lymington in the New Forest, stands as a thousand-year-old landmark whose historic churchyard is carefully managed as a wildflower meadow, providing a vital haven for local wildlife.
Crafted waterfall garden raising
funds for local charities
GARDEN AND CHURCH
12 June to 15 July
CREAM TEAS 2 till 5 on
SUNDAYS 21 & 28 June, 5 & 12 July
WEDNESDAYS : 24 June, 1 & 8 July
|
Building on the resounding success of the Remembrance poppy cascade in 2025, the local community has created something truly extraordinary for the Feast of St John this midsummer. From 12 June for five weeks, the churchyard will be transformed into St. John’s Waterfall Garden – a captivating pop-up installation. All visitors are warmly invited, with donations welcomed in support of three local charities: the Boldre Church Trust, the Countryside Education Trust, and CODA Arts and Music.
Donations may be made via Givewheel at https://gvwhl.com/MXY3W (St John’s Waterfall Garden) or scan the QR code:
At its heart, a dramatic 40-foot waterfall will cascade from the church tower into a shimmering pool, encircled by a radiant flower meadow. Crafted almost entirely from recycled materials donated by local businesses, friends and neighbours – including wool scraps, unwanted clothing and plastic packaging – the garden is a stunning demonstration of creativity and sustainability. Twenty guy ropes shimmer with fluttering shards of polythene that rustle gently in the breeze, while the pool itself is formed from an old pond net intricately sewn with rippling strips of blue polythene. Hand-crafted dragonflies, butterflies, bulrushes, lilies and fish appear to dart among the foliage, and hundreds of vibrant fabric flowers radiate outward from the water’s edge. Inside the church, visitors will discover even more enchanting waterfall garden creatures nestled among abundant floral displays.
This imaginative project has united church members and the wider community, forging new friendships through shared effort and goodwill, while supporting the important work of the three partner charities.
What, after all, is a garden? For some it may be a grand estate; for others, a modest backyard or even a single potted plant or painting. At St. John’s, we are painting our vision directly onto the beautiful canvas of this ancient churchyard – using cloth, yarn, polythene, string and glue, together with abundant imagination, dedication and community spirit.
Refreshments
Delicious cream teas will be available from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm on the following dates in 2026:
• Sundays: 21 and 28 June; 5 and 12 July
• Wednesdays: 24 June; 1 and 8 July
All are warmly welcome to visit this unique installation.
St. John’s Waterfall Garden is open every day from 12 June for five weeks. No booking is required.
For further details, including information on the supported charities, please contact Steph Glen 07768 403388 email: stephglen@hotmail.com