YWCA Richmond house
The Garden Path Project
A staged landscape project supporting women rebuilding stability and independence.
THE GARDEN PATH
Project Overview
Richmond House includes a substantial outdoor area in the heart of Richmond. While generous in size, the garden is underperforming — fragmented planting, declining trees and isolated beds that don’t yet support daily use.
The long-term vision is to reshape the garden into a connected, restorative landscape that supports quiet gathering, food growing and everyday access to green space.
The project is being delivered in stages. Stage 1 is a small but deliberate intervention — fully designed and costed — and currently under review with the YWCA grants team.
Stage 1: Northern Sensory Garden & Elm Intervention
Stage 1 focuses on a single raised garden bed — modest in scale, but intentional in impact — reshaped as a sensory garden.
At its centre stands a failing elm, structurally compromised and poorly suited to its location. Rather than remove it entirely, the tree will be intentionally killed and retained as standing habitat timber. A native climber will be trained through its trunk, allowing the structure to evolve into shelter, texture and biodiversity.
What was once decline becomes framework.
The surrounding bed will be rebuilt with improved soil and layered planting selected for scent, texture and seasonal change — designed to invite touch, participation and quiet pause.
Existing conditions - future Stage 1 area prior to intervention
Stage 1 planting plan - Northern Sensory Garden (proposed)
PLANT LEGEND
AA Artemisia absinthium Wormwood
AC Ulmus sp. Elm (retained standing dead tree – structural habitat support)
BM Brachyscome multifida Cut-leaf Daisy
HA Heliotropium arborescens Cherry Pie / Heliotrope
HP Helichrysum petiolare Licorice Plant
HV Hardenbergia violacea Native Wisteria
MP Myoporum parvifolium ‘Fine Leaf’ Creeping Boobialla
PG Punica granatum Pomegranate
PT Pelargonium tomentosum Peppermint Geranium
RO Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus’ Prostrate Rosemary
SC Senecio candicans ‘Angel Wings’ Angel Wings
Why this matters
For residents, this garden is not ornamental. It is grounding. Access to planting, shade and edible crops supports wellbeing, routine and connection. Even a single revitalised bed can shift how the space is used and cared for. Stage 1 demonstrates what thoughtful, staged landscape change can achieve, without requiring full site redevelopment from the outset.
Fund the First Step
Stage 1 has been fully designed and costed and is currently under grant review. Your contribution helps transform a failing garden bed into a sensory space rooted in care, resilience and ecological responsibility. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps bring this garden to life.