ABSTRACT
In the summer of 2012, the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in London conveyed to the world some archetypal images of England which permeate the psyche of the nation. It showcased extracts, both dark and light, from the country’s history through the means of drama, art and music. One centrepiece was a grassy setting depicting serene village life, echoing the well-known words of poet William Blake, “in England’s green and pleasant land”. Such cottages surrounded by lush gardens filled with colourful flowers epitomised a sense of nostalgia and symbol of aspiration for many; indeed, the garden holds an affectionate place in the country’s history, immortalised in the lyrics of a traditional folk song, ‘English country garden’, which celebrates the vibrant display of the native flowers, birds and insects which inhabit them. Serving as a tranquil retreat from the frenzied world of work and other pressures of life, the garden also offers an apt metaphor for spirituality in its broader sense: a place bursting with vitality; of strong majestic trees with solid roots; young shoots emerging from the ground seeking new life as other growth inevitably wilts and dies; a place where connectedness with nature is at its heart.
