CAPTION: Each flower in this display represents a young person who took their own life
Handmade Wildflower Meadow at Devon Church Highlights Mental Health and Wellbeing
A beautiful meadow of over 7000 handmade flowers has gone on display St Peter’s Church, Dowland, to help raise awareness of mental wellbeing.
Meadowland is open every Saturday and Sunday throughout July.
‘Meadowland’ is a colourful display both inside and outside the church.
The flowers have been individually handmade using a variety of materials, including wool, paper, wood, fabric and metal, by people of all ages in the community.
The installation is raising awareness and fundraising for two mental health charities, MIND and the suicide prevention charity Papyrus.
The natural world is known to have a positive effect on mental wellbeing, and that was the inspiration for St Peter’s Church’s wildflower like display.
The organisers hope that Meadowland can help to remove the stigma that surrounds mental health issues and encourage people to seek help when faced with various challenges.
Meadowland is also hoping to raise awareness of young people’s mental health and wellbeing.
Inside the church, there is a display which features a willow sculpture of a child, surrounded by 197 flowers.
The exhibition has been created by people in the local community.
Each flower represents a young person aged 10-19 years old, who took their own life in 2022 in England and Wales.
The phrase ‘The seeds of today are the flowers of tomorrow’ has inspired the exhibition, as the organisers believe that protection, guidance and kindness shown to the younger generation in an ever changing and challenging world is vital.
St Peter’s Church has also been working to support children and young people in it’s local community through it’s ‘Peter’s Patch’ children’s group. The group provides fun free activities for children, including cooking, crafting, growing vegetables, and learning about the natural world and the environment.
If you would like to visit the ‘Meadowlands’ display, you can find it at St Peter’s Church, Dowland, EX19 8PD. It is open on Saturdays and Sundays in July from 10am-5pm, with free entry and parking, and homemade refreshments.
Donations to Papyrus, Mind and Peter’s Patch are welcome.
For help and support you can contact these charities by phone:
MIND 0300 102 1234
THE SAMARATIANS 116 123
PAPYRUS Hopeline 0800 0684141