This sanctuary garden is designed to encourage people to slow down, connect with nature and experience the grounding sensation of walking barefoot. It is an immersive space that encourages a deep sense of presence, where the simple act of feeling the earth beneath your feet becomes the first step towards relaxation and restoration.
Christine Alford from Alford and Sowter Landscapes – Image Credit Christine Alford
Scott Sowter from Alford and Sowter Landscapes – Image Credit Christine Alford
The garden unfolds in a series of terraces, gently drawing you in – taking you on a symbolic journey from the restless energy of a busy mind to a state of calm and stillness.
Inspired by the raw beauty of open moorland and tors, it embraces simplicity, using natural materials such as limestone pavers, rugged boulders and soft, naturalistic planting to create a landscape that feels both wild and welcoming.
Our passion for this project is deeply personal. Our own journeys of health and wellbeing have explored the intricate balance of the sympathetic nervous system – the fight-or-flight response that drives us forward, keeps us alert and helps us accomplish our goals.
In today’s fast-paced world, many of us struggle to switch off, to transition from this heightened state into the parasympathetic nervous system – the state of rest, recovery and healing. This is like a long, slow exhale – a sigh of relief that signals deep restoration.
Our Barefoot Garden is designed to facilitate this shift. It is a space to wander, to breathe, to pause. A place where the rhythm of nature gently coaxes you into a slower, more mindful way of being – one barefoot step at a time.
Founded by RHS-trained plantswoman and gardener, Christine Alford and Scott Sowter, who holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Landscape Design, Alford and Sowter designs and builds gardens to inspire and delight across Cornwall.
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