Students help start work on city peace garden

GREEN-FINGERED students helped begin work on a new Japanese Peace Garden in Coventry’s War Memorial Park.

Children from five city primary school’s donned their hi-vis jackets to assist workers in digging the foundations for the garden attraction.

The project has been designed in conjunction with pupils and is hoped to help share a message of peace and reconciliation across the city.

A key feature will be the ‘Islands of Peace’, while there will also be a gingko tree, viewing platforms and Japanese cherry trees known as sakura trees - all surrounded by a low wall with a traditional Japanese partial roof.

A new cherry orchard will also be planted adjacent to the garden.

Pupils have been learning about Japan as part of education work under the Coventry Young Ambassadors programme.

Students visited the country last November and were inspired to create the garden after a video call with a Hiroshima bombing survivor.

Rebecca Bollands, deputy head of

Howes Primary School, one of the five schools involved, said: “We are delighted that Coventry Young Ambassadors from Broad Heath, Finham, Howes, Park Hill and Stivichall primary schools have started work on their Islands of Peace Japanese Peace Garden in the Memorial Park.

“They have assisted Chiel Construction with digging foundations and bricklaying.

“The next stage will be stripping the turf, positioning the boulders and completing the planting.”

Renowned Japanese garden designer Robert Ketchell has also helped design the garden, which Ms Bollands said is hoped to be an area of “national significance” once it opens.

Severn Trent Community Fund have agreed to fund a cherry orchard adjacent to the garden, Ms Bollands said.

“It will be lovely for picnics and relaxation,” she added.

Coventry City Council has also contributed £30,000 towards the scheme with other funding from private sponsors.

The project was initially hoped to open in June but has been delayed due to the coronavirus.