A Laudato Si Prayer Garden - Shepherds Bush £58,000
Design and Installation of a Laudato Si Prayer Garden at Shepherds Bush School by Robert Sergent- Fairley
Shepherds Bush Catholic Primary School has become home to the United Kingdom’s first fully realised Laudato Si Prayer Garden, designed and installed by Robert Sergent- Fairley of SchoolPlaygroundDesigners.com.
Inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si, which calls on everyone to care for the world around us, the school embarked on a mission to create a small, fully enclosed, and beautifully contemplative space for pupils, staff, and their families.
Quote from Head Teacher
"I cannot put into words our deep gratitude to Robert Sergent- Fairley and his amazing team for creating this beautiful Laudato Si Garden—it has surpassed every dream we had for our school and provides a lasting space for reflection, prayer, and care for creation."
The main challenge was finding a school garden designer capable of turning this vision into reality. Robert Sergent- Fairley and his team of master craftsmen rose to the occasion.
He provided the school with a unique hand-drawn design that perfectly captured the school’s aspirations, combining beauty, functionality, and reflection.
In Brief
- Gardening areas – Grow vegetables, herbs, salads, and fruit.
- Prayer & reflection seating – Pergola benches and timber arbours.
- Quiet garden – Peaceful space for pupils and staff.
- Timber structures – Cedar shingle roofs.
- Central fountain – Mosaic with lamb, olive tree, dove, hand of God, and Cross.
- Virgin Mary statue – Donated by former Headmistress.
- Symbolic planting – Lemon, fig, olive, palm trees, bamboo, and perennials.
- UK first – Complete Laudato Si School Garden.
The garden serves multiple purposes.
Children can grow vegetables, salads, herbs, and fruit in dedicated planting areas, learning the value of nurturing life. For private or communal prayer, the garden offers a variety of seating arrangements, including sheltered bench seats under a jasmine-covered pergola and traditional Old English timber arbours with low benches.
It also functions as a quiet school garden, providing a peaceful space for reflection for all.
Timber structures throughout the garden feature timeless cedar shingle roofs, while a central water fountain sits atop mosaics depicting a lamb, an olive tree, a dove, Michelangelo’s hand of God, and the Cross of Christ.
Planting includes symbolic species such as lemon, fig, and olive trees, palms, calming bamboo, and dwarf perennials, ensuring year-round beauty and engagement for students. A statue of the Virgin Mary, generously donated by retired Headmistress Kathy Doogan, adds further reverence to the space.
Quotes From Parents
“Seeing our children tend the garden and find quiet moments for prayer has been truly inspiring.”
“This garden is more than beautiful—it teaches respect for nature and brings our family closer to creation.”
“We feel so grateful that the school has created a peaceful space where our children can grow, reflect, and connect with the world around them.”
Headmistress Imogen Lavelle expressed her gratitude: “I cannot put into words our deep gratitude to you and your amazing team for this beautiful Laudato Si Garden, which is beyond our longed-for dreams.”
Shepherds Bush School now proudly hosts the first complete Laudato Si School Garden in the UK, a lasting legacy of care, reflection, and environmental stewardship.