Story
Hello,
Thank you for visiting this fundraising page for the forthcoming Ladywell Physic Garden – a new public garden in Ladywell, a village of London's south east.
The Ladywell Physic Garden is proudly designed by herbalist and gardener Joao Teixeira Afonso and gardener David Congram. The garden will be open to the public from August 2026, after being unveiled at the Royal Horticultural Society's Sandringham Flower Show, exhibited in the grounds of the royal estate.
What is the Ladywell Physic Garden?
Since the before 10th century, Ladywell has been a site of worship and medical miracles. The village derives its name from an ancient miracle well purportedly cured eye problems, leading to the area becoming a place of pilgrimage since the medieval era. Throughout history, Ladywell's miraculous waters and abundant fields of wildflowers and medicinal plants served the local community's health needs – until the well mysteriously vanished at some point during the nineteenth century.
The Ladywell Physic Garden tells this story of wonder and wellbeing. Inspired by this ancient history, the design draws on the tradition of medieval physic gardens and exclusively features medicinal plants that thrive in erratic weather patterns, many of which continue to grow wild throughout Ladywell and south-east London.
With your support, the garden will be permanently open and accessible to the public from August 2026, located on Ladywell Road at the edge of St Mary's Church on the banks of the River Ravensbourne (site pictured below).
What will the Ladywell Physic Garden look like?
The Ladywell Physic Garden was designed by Joao Teixeira Afonso and David Congram to evoke the medieval history of Ladywell and the development of herbal medicine in the United Kingdom – a fascinating aspect of British cultural identity.
Alongside many native and naturalised plant species, the various beds will be bursting with colour: blues and purples which evoke the area's watery past, while pinks and yellows reflect the spirit of the vibrant local community. Soft white and golden tones link the beds, and carry the garden through its various guises across the seasons.
The centrepiece – a beautiful mature Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus) and its abundant deep-purple flowers (pictured above) – fills the air with its delicate fragrance, attracting pollinators and providing food and shelter for the area's birdlife. Under its shade, sculptures by artist Lucy Page bring the history of the area into focus, with repurposed antique well bucket planters giving a gentle nod to the area's once-famed miracle well.
Who is the Ladywell Physic Garden for?
Health and wellbeing should be accessible to everyone, and so the Ladywell Physic Garden is proud to be an open-access space for all members of the public.
In addition to the beautiful planting, local herbalist Joao Teixeira Afonso (founder of Herbal Symbiosis) will present an ongoing free series of educational community events centred around health and 'making and taking' herbal medicine. Botanical illustrations by Mateo Costa and design visuals by Dimitra Dimitriou help make this content accessible and entertaining for young and old.
What will funding be used for?
All funds raised will be dedicated to costs associated with planting and landscaping. Along with the support pledged by Lewisham Council, your donation will be instrumental in transforming an overlooked corner of Ladywell into a place for the ongoing enjoyment and wellbeing of all.
Thanks for taking the time to visit the Ladywell Physic Garden's JustGiving page. Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, I will withdraw funds directly. It's the most efficient way to donate and saves time and costs.
A message from the Ladywell Physic Garden founders and designers:
We are enormously proud to bring Ladywell's extraordinary history to the public attention. The Ladywell Physic Garden's first herbaceous border (of many!) was selected by the Royal Horticultural Society's upcoming Sandringham Flower Show and will be exhibited to the public in the royal estate from 22-26 July before returning to its permanent home on Ladywell Road. We are delighted to have this opportunity to champion our local community, bring herbal medicine and wellbeing into focus, and to help provide a space for the public dedicated to everyone's enjoyment, learning, entertainment and health. We are very grateful to the many artists, designers, illustrators, gardeners and Lewisham Council for their generosity and collaboration. They join us in sharing their heartfelt thanks to you for your kind donation and support for the Ladywell Physic Garden.
