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The Bishop of St Asaph has welcomed volunteers to the grounds of St Asaph Cathedral to begin constructing a heritage garden.Bishop Gregory Cameron oversaw the planting of more than 200 lavender plants providing a boundary hedge around the new garden, which takes its inspiration from the monasteries of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. He blessed the garden project and the volunteers who will create the new space.Bishop Gregory said, “The grounds of St Asaph Cathedral are part of the peace and sanctuary of this holy site, and offer an attractive setting away from the busy-ness of life. Dedicating a section to the creation of a monastic-style “Physick” garden, which will include a space for prayer and meditation, will enhance the Cathedral and I look forward to watching it develop.”A team of volunteers will be creating the garden, advised by heritage gardening landscaper, Ray Bailey. It will feature plants authentic to monastic gardens and will include two sections. A meditational or paradisum garden, which was an area for monks to meditate, relax, and pray, will have planting focusing on fragrance and flowers. This space will include seating to encourage outdoor prayer and meditation. A physic garden will grow medicinal herbs which would have been used for the treatment and wellbeing of Monks, lay brothers, and often the public outside the monastery.St Asaph Cathedral is the second cathedral in Wales to be awarded a bronze Eco-Church award by Arocha UK, which seeks to encourage churches to care for creation as an integral part of mission and ministry.The Heritage Garden project is organised by St Asaph Cathedral’s Activities Coordinator Lorna Kernahan, whose post is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to encourage engagement with heritage and develop volunteer skills and training. It is one of several schemes in churchyards across the diocese to boost environmentally-friendly activities.Lorna said, “This project is about encouraging people to engage with the heritage aspects of St Asaph Cathedral. Our volunteers are busy researching the sorts of plants which would have been typical in monastic gardens. We’ll be meeting once a week, usually on a Wednesday morning, to begin planting and developing the garden.“We’re aiming to create a low maintenance space, based on a no-dig system, using forest bark to keep weeds at bay and provide an attractive appearance.“If you’re interested in volunteering in the garden, please get in touch. More volunteers are very welcome.”St Asaph Cathedral’s medieval garden project is one of several initiatives funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to encourage more people to find out about their local history and heritage. Over the last year, with Coronavirus restrictions closing the Cathedral to visitors, monthly craft bags based on the building’s history have been created and distributed to local families. Various online events have taken place uncovering the life and legacy of the Welsh Bible Translators who are commemorated with a monument in the Cathedral grounds. On 2 June, St Asaph Cathedral is running a joint event online with Westminster Abbey to uncover the connections which link the two great buildings.Elsewhere in the diocese, St John’s Church in Rhos y Medre is looking at making temporary raised beds in the church yard to facilitate a community vegetable garden. St Cynfarch’s Church in Hope has an arrangement with a local farmer who grazes a flock of sheep in the churchyard.If you are interested in volunteering at St Asaph Cathedral, please email Lorna Kernahan: lornakernahan@stasaphcathedral.wales