Healing garden adds beauty to hospital grounds-The Banner
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Healing is the inspiration behind a new landscape project at Headwaters Health Care Centre in Orangeville Ontario Canada.

The design, dubbed the Healing Wheel of Trees, encompasses the natural beauty of the region and will feature a circular dry stone wall. It will be built by volunteers under the direction of dry stone walling instructor John Shaw-Rimmington.

"Traditional dry stone wall construction has been around for many years in Europe but not as much in Canada," says Shaw-Rimmington. "We are reintroducing this as a way to beautify Canada and the region."

Volunteer coordinator Lynn Sinclair-Smith says it is an incredible project that will include five large indigenous trees planted within the circular wall, with smaller trees planted outside. It will also include a low maintenance eco-lawn that is environmentally supportive.

"The eco-lawn will never have to be fertilized or cut," says Sinclair-Smith adding that it is also called orchard grass. "It grows up to about six inches and it looks beautiful."

The project, which will be located at the hospital's entrance, is being supported financially by the community through the donation of funds and materials. The hospital has contributed $10,000 to the project, and Sinclair-Smith says she hopes to raise another $30,000.

"The five major trees will be available for dedication and the smaller flowering hawthorn trees will be available," she notes. "Also available for dedication is the dry stone wall."

Volunteers began efforts under the direction of Shaw- Rimmington and Norman Haddow on Oct. 13. 2005

Submitted by ASHLEY GOODFELLOW Orangeville Banner Staff Writer