The more complex and challenging the world becomes, the more we seem to seek sanctuary in our gardens. Years of austerity and conflict have unsettled us and increasingly led us to look to gardens or beautiful natural places to take refuge, relax, and find peace of mind.

In this lecture, Alan Clements, creator of the Cascades meditation garden near Matlock, will explore our interest in gardening and the deeper satisfaction that we can get from creating our own special natural sacred space.

Alan will review Chinese and Japanese gardens from his own experience and some of the principles underlying these gardens. He examines his own gardens in the light of Feng Shui and explains how he has attempted to create the peace, tranquillity, balance and harmony that can only be achieved by working with nature.

In retirement, Alan has combined his lifelong interests of Buddhist philosophy and gardening and over the last 25 years has created Cascades Gardens, a meditation garden and Bonsai centre in the heart of the Peak District.