Anna’s Visit to the Tibetan Peace Garden, Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park, Lambeth

After the busyness of a visit during half-term to the Imperial War Museum, it was relaxing to visit the adjacent Tibetan Peace Garden on an amazingly warm and sunny, winter’s day in February. 

This is a lovely, partially enclosed garden which was opened by the Dalal Lama in 1999 and it was named ‘Samten Kyil’, meaning the Garden of Contemplation and this is exactly what the designers have achieved.  

The garden is made up of two parts: an outer garden of trees and lawn sweeping around and enclosing the inner circular garden, the whole bordered by a circular pathway in which to enjoy the views.  White-barked Himalayan Birches, making a striking contrast against the green and blue of the grass and the sky, are interspersed with Weeping Cherries and Prunus serrula (Tibetan Cherry) with polished, red-purple bark.  

The main entrance to the inner garden commences from the stone Language Pillar which leads the visitor along the central path through the two ‘gatepost’ pillars, both of which are framed by Winter-Flowering Honeysuckle, which act as a nice welcome. 

Every aspect of the inner garden has a symbolic meaning.  The main focal point within this sanctum is the central and circular stone and bronze Kalachakra Mandala, surrounded with eight stone seats to convey peacefulness and contemplation.  

Four Portland Stone sculptures add gravitas, representing air, fire, earth and water and these are surrounded by a circular trellis, which divides the two gardens.  On my visit the gardener was working on trimming back the winter’s growth of climbing roses, jasmine, honeysuckle, Trachelospermum and shrubbery.  Between the stone paving, the flower beds were partially covered with Alchemilla, sweet violets in flower, with foliage of daylilies and Peonies excitingly emerging, indicating spring is on its way.

Anna L