Cawood Oriental Garden, North Yorkshire
This is a small private garden in a North Yorkshire village whose design has been inspired by Buddhist gardens.
Cawood
It shows how many of the features of Purelands Japanese garden, described earlier, can be created effectively and charmingly in a very much smaller area - equivalent to 19 metres by 19 metres.
This garden was not started as a Buddhist religious garden. Rather, the owners had visited Purelands repeatedly, liked it very much, and wished something similar at home.
For the size of the garden, there are many trees and bushes. This means that you cannot see everything at once, so there is a feel of many different parts to the garden. It makes it possible to have many paths leading through the garden, which each seem to lead to an area which you have not seen before. As a result, the garden can contain several large features without looking at all crowded.
Features include:
- Beautiful traditional arrangement of a Buddha image in a pool.
- A ‘Tower of Contemplation’ in a shady corner.
- A Zen garden in another corner.
- A red oriental-style bridge over a water channel.
All construction work has been done by the owners themselves, often with recycled materials.
There are several Buddha images and small statues, collections of choice rocks and fountains. Stone lanterns and wind chimes provide the rest of the ‘Four Elements’. Bird-tables have been made in an oriental style.
There are many seats to enjoy the varied views which this garden’s layout creates – 17 seats altogether.
For variety of beautiful and secluded sitting places within a small area, this garden has much to teach.
Visiting
The garden can be visited on National Gardens Scheme open days or by arrangement. Phone Brenda and Tony Finnigan on 01757-268888.
The garden is located between York and Selby.
Continue reading: Jean’s Meditation Garden.