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| The Ever After Garden Every year, for the last four years, the Ever After Garden blooms in the Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, London for a month and is open to the public from 3.00 pm every evening to 9.00 pm. The proceeds from the garden go to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, to fund cancer research. |
The brainchild of designer Anya Hindmarch CBE, the garden is an opportunity to remember and honour the memory of a loved one by dedicating an illuminated rose in their name. When her dear friend Michael Howells passed away, she wanted him to be remembered in a way that would honour his life and work. Howells was an Art Designer who worked across film, theatre, television and fashion. Apart from helming the Art Direction for notable films like Nanny McPhee, Emma and Shackleton, he designed for the biggest names in fashion like Christian Dior, Burberry and Dolce and Gabbana, curated many art exhibitions and collaborated on famous advertising campaigns. He left an immense body of exemplary work across various art forms, when he succumbed to cancer. Camilla Morton, a London based fashion writer associated with Vogue, and a dear friend of Howells joined hands with Anya Hindmarch to commemorate Howells life and work and the Ever After Garden was born in 2019 - named after the film Ever After for which Howells had done the art direction.
The garden consists of rows and rows of long stemmed white roses installed on the ground and illuminated with a small bulb in its centre. Visitors can dedicate a rose with a hand written message to, or about, a loved one who is no more. This message is placed at the bottom of each rose for a sum of £10. The proceeds from the garden are donated to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity for Cancer Research. Since its inception, the garden has contributed more than £450,000 towards the Charity.
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In the dark winter night, hidden away in the centre of Mayfair and surrounded by buildings, columns and corniches bathed in golden hues, the rows and rows of roses create an aura of beauty and tranquility. The roses are beautifully crafted in silk and the lights are cleverly concealed without giving even a whiff of doubt that they are not real ones. Touching messages written to fathers, mothers, siblings, grandparents and friends who are no more, sit quietly at the base of each stem. |
| Memories etched on stone |
A triumph of creativity, precision and aesthetics, the Ever After Garden is quite ethereal.
It is a beautiful garden that honours a beautiful sentiment.
