Young people join Leighton Buzzard workshop with sculptor to help with piece for Chelsea Flower Show garden
Young people across Central Bedfordshire took part in a workshop with a top sculptor who is creating a piece for a garden at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show.
The workshop, which was hosted at The Children’s Society Youth Club in Leighton Buzzard, saw a group of 14 to 20-year-olds learn tips and ideas from sculptor Alice Cunningham.
During the workshop, entitled Forms of Growth, Alice encouraged the young people to sketch ideas inspired by how forms of nature adapt, grow and show resilience.
With assistance from The Children’s Society garden designer Patrick Clarke, the young people’s artistic sketches were developed into clay sculptures.
Some of the finished sculpture objects made at the workshop by the young people will be displayed as part of the finished garden design, while others will help inspire Alice’s final piece for The Children’s Society garden, which will be crafted from reclaimed stone and clay.
Alice is currently creating a sculpture for Patrick’s Children’s Society garden at the Chelsea Flower Show, which is being staged in May.
Children’s Society garden designer Patrick Clarke said: “Today's workshop embodies the environment that The Children’s Society offer the young people they support - hope, safety and connection.
“Throughout the design process the young creative partners from the charity have provided me with excellent ideas for the garden’s design features to ensure they will have a nurturing outdoor space to support their emotional wellbeing.”
Sculptor Alice Cunningham added: “This workshop session with the young people we support at the Leighton Buzzard Youth Club provided them with the opportunity to meet with their friends during February half-term, increase their confidence and learn new creative skills at their own pace whilst in a safe, inclusive and caring environment.”
Following the Chelsea Flower Show The Children’s Society Garden will be permanently relocated to the charity’s youth club on Vandyke Road in Leighton Buzzard, where it will become the society’s first outdoor wellbeing space for young people.
The Children’s Society is a national charity which aims to support young people who are experiencing difficult life challenges.