Published at 10:40, Saturday, 24 October 2009

THE grounds of an historic hall known as the birthplace of Quakerism are to undergo landscaping work to create a meditation garden.

QUIET PLACE: Resident manager Bill Shaw starts work on the garden project at Swarthmoor HallJOE RILEY REF: 0506958

The Religious Society of Friends plans to boost the spiritual nature of Swarthmoor Hall by providing a private, green space for quiet contemplation.

The group also want to overhaul a small outbuilding into a hermitage shelter where people can relax in a withdrawn, peaceful surrounding.

It is estimated the overall project will cost between £40,000 and £50,000.

Work is due to start in November.

The Religious Society of Friends is a religious group made up of Quakers.

The meditation garden plan has been drawn up by national and local members who use and run Swarthmoor Hall, which is a listed building.

Bill Shaw, hall manager, said: “There have been nearly seven years of planning to get the budget agreed but it is going to improve the hall for everybody who comes.

“The garden is going to be specially planted to make it even more appropriate to people reflecting, contemplating and meditating.

“It will be more accessible to people with disabilities, more exciting and more interesting and hopefully will allow people to sit and enjoy the surrounding nature.”

Swarthmoor Hall is renowned, among other things, for its field of purple crocuses that attract great visitor interest when they burst into bloom each year.

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