St Godwald's Retreat - a new garden for Primrose Hospice

F.B. & Sons is honoured to present St Godwald’s Retreat at the RHS Malvern Spring Festival, a garden created in support of Primrose Hospice & Family Support Centre in Bromsgrove. Designed as a mindful retreat, this space offers solace, reflection, and a deep connection to the past and present, inspired by the landscapes surrounding the Hospice and the historic life of St Godwald.

We are looking for Patrons to support us with the build and relocation costs for St Godwald's Retreat. All of the Patron's name will appear on a special plaque once the garden is relocated to the Hospice grounds later in 2025.

Unfortunately we lost our main sponsor for the garden, so are trying to raise the funds ourselves.

​​​​​​​​​​At the heart of the garden sits a handcrafted wattle and daub gazebo, an ancient building technique brought to life with lime-hemp render, organic pigments, and natural materials. Within this space rests the wind telephone—a simple yet profound symbol of remembrance.

The journey through the garden leads past a memory tree, bearing the names and stories of those cherished and remembered. A mindful labyrinth, traced in scented herbs, invites visitors to slow down and reflect. Beyond lies a wildflower glade—a place to pause, meditate, or simply be, surrounded by the gentle hum of nature. Textured standing stones, inspired by the ancient landscapes of Brittany where St Godwald lived centuries ago, punctuate the space, grounding the garden in a deeper history.

​Sustainability is woven into every element of St Godwald’s Retreat. Reclaimed stone, UK-grown timber, and repurposed materials reduce the garden’s carbon footprint, while pathways of crushed whelk shells—a fishing by-product—highlight the beauty of thoughtful reuse. The planting is rooted in native species, chosen for their resilience, medicinal history, and role in supporting biodiversity.

More than a show garden, St Godwald’s Retreat is a space for conversation—about grief, hospice care, and the power of nature in healing. After RHS Malvern, the entire garden will be relocated to the Primrose Hospice in Bromsgrove, where it will continue to offer comfort and connection to patients, families, and friends.