Lambeth
Palace was the elegant venue for The Quiet Conference in April
2008. The Quiet Garden Trust, the UK Noise Association and the Campaign to
Protect Rural England co-hosted this event. One hundred and twenty invited
delegates gathered for a day intended to inspire and challenge agents of
change to value and validate opportunities and strategies for the
provision of quiet space and place in our culture. The guests were drawn
from leadership positions in national charities, local planning
authorities, government bodies (including MPs), faith groups and
environmental agencies.
TV presenter, Jonathan Dimbleby opened the day with a warm welcome.
Speakers from each of the three hosting organisations highlighted
particular aspects of the topic. John Stewart of UKNA outlined how the
creation of quiet spaces needs to become part of national policy aimed at
an overall reduction of noise levels. Shaun Spiers, the chief executive of
CPRE reflected on the nature of tranquillity, be it a quality of sound or
of visual impact. He, along with others, spoke of the imperative need to
endorse the value of tranquil spaces as these foster well being and
promote mental health. No one evidenced this more clearly than Jill Lewis,
formerly Head of Offender Management at Bedford Prison, who shared with us
the significant improvement of the mental health of prisoners using the
Quiet Garden in this prison.
Deeply appreciated were both Philip Roderick and Abbot Christopher
Jamison of Worth Abbey. Philip spoke of the urgent need to privilege quiet
even in the work setting (the ‘professional pit-stop’ – a memorable
phrase!) and of the dividends of creating such intentional space in
deepening personal authority, fostering creative engagement and enhancing
corporate well-being. A member of the Palace staff was amazed to see the
whole delegate body walk into the gardens in silence and engage through
stillness with the garden environment, even beneath raindrops!
Abbot Christopher continued the theme reminding us that within every
person, there is a contemplative dimension that we disregard only at great
cost to ourselves. All faith traditions value stillness. He pointed out
the difference between beneficial ‘soft’ natural sounds and harsh
noise.
The impact of the day was widely extended through coverage on BBC Radio
Four’s Today programme and Radio Five Live, as well as through reports
in some major newspapers. This all raised awareness of the Quiet Garden
Movement both for those present and to the 400 plus organisations who
received invitations. We certainly hope it advanced the campaign to
restrain developers from swallowing up all green space!
Mollie Robinson, Quiet Garden Co-ordinator