Terrence Higgins Trust Bridge to 2030 Garden tells a story of resilience, community and love. Its focus is a future post-2030 with no new HIV cases, where people living with HIV live well, without stigma and there is good sexual health for all.

The iconic ‘Monolith’ of the 1980s Government ads – when ‘AIDS’ was engraved on a falling tombstone within a slate quarry – still casts a shadow today. The entrance into the garden is reminiscent of the flooded base of a rejuvenated quarry landscape. The water level rises and falls revealing a monolith slate stepping stone creating a bridge to that 2030 vision.

The tombstone, which represented death and fear, is now a crossing leading to a secluded terrace in which to enjoy a positive, hopeful future together.

The planting in the garden is inspired by the recolonisation of plants in the redundant slate mines of North Wales by both nature and from the subtle intervention of ecologists and horticulturalists.

The front of the garden is a crevice garden which is a style of gardening that takes inspiration from natural areas where plants grow in spaces between rocks. It is perfect for plants designed for ‘Xeriscaping’ which is the process of gardening that reduces or eliminates the need for irrigation. With well drained soil and appropriate resilient planting, a crevice garden does not use much water and should thrive.

The front of the garden will be ornamental in nature transitioning to a more natural look towards the rear of the garden, promoting the idea that it can be beneficial to garden loosely in areas of the garden.

Garden Sponsored by Project Giving Back
Garden build by Yoreland Design.
Plants by Hortus Loci
Slate and stone sponsored by Welsh Slate.

With thanks to the many suppliers, artisans and volunteers who helped to bring this special garden to life.