Lifeboat memorial redesigned at National Arboretum
A garden dedicated to all the volunteers of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) who have made sacrifices while helping save lives at sea, has undergone a redevelopment at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
Award winning designer and TV presenter, Chris Beardshaw, has been responsible for the redesign, which shows the relationship between the crew, the rescued person and their families and all whose lives become woven together during a rescue mission.
"The centre of the garden, which is approximately 30m x 30m in total, represents the harbour – seclusion, and safety," explains Chris. "Beyond that is a circular path that takes you on the journey that a rescuer would take – out into a more turbulent seas, and back into the harbour with those rescued."
The design has a strong coastal theme and Chris has used a combination of natural stone monoliths, reclaimed timber groins and planting of grasses and vigorous herbaceous plants to produce a beautiful space in which to contemplate and reflect on the work of the RNLI.
The original garden at the Arboretum was established 10 years ago and featured a sculpture of a lifeboatman as its centrepiece. The sculpture, by Andrew Fitchett, retains pride of place in the garden and has been carefully integrated into the new design.
Chris, who officially opened the garden in September, commented: "To me this is a project that I couldn’t say 'no' to. I sail and dive and I’ve seen what the RNLI does firsthand so I'm a great supporter of the charity. With this site – among so many other memorial gardens – the design needed to be strong and provide its own presence. The design aims to remind the visitor that there are individuals prepared to put themselves at risk and sacrifice their time, effort and ultimately their lives, to save those in trouble at sea."
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea and its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the UK and Republic of Ireland coasts. It operates over 230 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and has more than 160 lifeguard units on UK beaches. For more information on the charity log onto: www.rnli.org.uk
Picture Caption: Chris Beardshaw at the redesigned RNLI Garden © RNLI
