Inside the Glastonbury gardens, with Beth Llewellyn

In this episode of the BBC Gardeners World Magazine Podcast, host Sonia is joined by Beth Llewellyn, who created the Peace Garden at Glastonbury Festival. Beth recounts how the garden originated in the 1990s as a small healing area and evolved into a permanent installation that provides a peaceful retreat amid the festival's chaos. The discussion focuses on various elements that contributed to its growth, including collaboration with other festival-goers, sustainable practices, and the integration of diverse garden designs like yin yang and feng shui. Beth explains how the garden not only serves as a space for reflection and calm but also reflects the values of peace and community inherent to the festival. The conversation touches on various projects over the years, including designs with prayer flags and water features to enhance tranquility. Additionally, they discuss the challenges of maintaining the garden, the importance of incorporating wildlife-friendly plants, and future aspirations such as the development of a labyrinth. Beth also shares the joy and sense of community fostered by teamwork in gardening, highlighting that peace and connection with nature can be achieved in any space. The episode concludes with Beth's advice for creating one's own peace garden, focusing on accessibility to nature and the inclusion of water features for serenity.