This competition is now closed. Thanks to those who took part and congratulations to the winner, Sheila Jefferson. The judges chose “The Garden of Time” as it resonated with the historical significance of this unique space, and highlighted the pleasure of spending time in the new garden today.


We’re running a competition to name a new public garden in Shoreditch. The winner will be given two free passes to the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew and a ride on the Kew Explorer. 

Shakespearean actor and ex-Eastender, Timothy West, will announce the new name at the official opening during our Bard’s Yard garden party on June 14.

About the garden

Gardening students at SCT’s New Hanbury Project have been working with tutor Janis Wales all year to transform the wildest corner of St Leonard’s Church gardens. Working creatively with nature is of great benefit to people in recovery from addictions. 

Together they shaped a pathway winding between new fruit trees – apples, pears and plums – and around a central hornbeam tree. There are ‘chamomile seats’ to linger on, mosaic stepping stones created by SCT’s art class, and even a wishing well.  

A wildflower meadow leads up to a raised herb bed on which will be engraved the serenity prayer – an important element of the 12 steps recovery programme.
Dotted around the space are quotes from Shakespeare, reflecting the strong links between ‘The Bard’ and this special place. 

You can download a larger version of the design and read the full annotations below.

The Shakespeare connection

Shoreditch was the original site of the Globe Theatre and a medieval church on the site of St Leonard’s Church became the actors’ church. Shakespeare is highly likely to have worshipped here, along with much of London’s early thespian fraternity. 

Three Burbages are buried below the current crypt: James and his sons Cuthbert and Richard. James and Cuthbert built London’s first theatres, and Richard was the first to play Macbeth, Hamlet, Othello and Romeo.

Read more about the amazing history of St Leonard’s on the Shoreditch Church website.

How to enter

Think of a brilliant name for the new garden using 6 words or less. 

Your suggestion can focus on history or the present, plants or people, a mood or anything that strikes you about this special corner of London.

You can enter on social media if you like or follow our accounts, or using our email sign up page. This will help us share our news and events with you and a wider audience, supporting our work with people in recovery and the homeless.

Facebook: people who Like SCT’s Facebook page can enter this way. Please make your suggestion in a comment on our posts about this competition, or in a post on our page including the hashtag #BardsYard.

Twitter: If you follow our Twitter stream you are eligible to enter via twitter. Please tweet your entry in a message including #BardsYard and @recoverypathway, so that we can find your entry easily.

Email: Add your name and email address on our e-newsletter sign up page and include your competition entry on the Additional Comments box.

The competition closes at midday on Friday 11 June 2015 and the winner will be chosen by a panel from SCT and Shoreditch Church.

Good luck!

Garden design annotations

Download a large image of the garden design.

  • a. Apple ‘Red Windsor’
  • b. Plum ‘East Farleigh’
  • c. Pear ‘ Louise Bon of Jersey’
  • d. Apple ‘Golden Hills;
  • e. Apple ‘Sunrise’
  • f. Plum ‘Pixie’
  • g. Apple ‘Rajka’
  • h. Pear ‘Celebration’
  • i. Camomile seats
  • j. Climbing honeysuckle
  • k. Climbing rose
  • Spiral Box
  • m. Raised stone herb bed
  • n. Stone well
  • p. Hornbeam
  • q. Log borders
  • r. Box hedge
  • s. Mosaic stepping stones
  • t. Historic restored wall
  • w. Wild flower meadow
  • x. Mown path through meadow
  • y. Shakespeare quote plaques

With special thanks to the Kew Garden #GrowWild team for supporting this project and providing the prize.

Competition Terms and Conditions

  1. This promotion is run by SCT (see charity and company registration details at the bottom of this page).
  2. The competition opens at midday on Thursday 28 May 2015.
  3. The competition closes at midday on Friday 12 June 2015.
  4. The competition is open to people resident in the UK.
  5. The judges’ decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.
  6. The prize includes entry for two adults or children to the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, and one ride on the Kew Explorer for these two people. This does not include travel to or from Kew. There is no cash alternative.
  7. No purchase necessary.
  8. People who like or follow SCT’s Facebook or Twitter accounts are eligible to enter on these platforms.
  9. By entering our competition by email, you agree that your contact details will be added to our contact database. We may from time to time email you with news of our work and events. You can unsubscribe from receiving these emails at any time.
  10. You can enter as many times as you like, but only one entry per platform per day will be considered.
  11. Setting up multiple accounts to enter the competition is not allowed.
  12. The companies Facebook and Twitter are not associated with this competition in any way.