The Secret Garden

Art and Recycling

This is the story of how one man put his dream of urban art into reality. It is also a tribute from friends who have known him for years, respect and appreciate his work and feel he deserves credit.

Welcome to the Secret Garden created in Liquorice Park by Richard Bett, Lincoln based sculptor, jewellery designer and musician. Thank you for being the special person you are and not being discouraged by critics.

Old Guthram's Almanac 2010 by persimew

Credits....

Thank you to Richard's helpers!

I hope to add to these over time. Work progresses every week in Liquorice Park. When you browse the slides you will see they have credits to people who have helped Richard with this project. On his behalf I would like to say a special thank you to Phil Robinson, Robert Clark, Tim & Chrissie Plant, Dave Kitchen, Jamie Hawker and Andy Tomlinson for all you have done.

No order of preference. We love you all!

Photos from the Secret Garden

From the Grotto in Liquorice Park

A view into the grotto shows a little stone wall and a bench posing as a sofa. The sofa is comprised of concrete "pillows" with a projecting wooden seat. It is actually surprisingly comfortable!

The path way to the grotto features some specially made tiles and miniature crazy paving work which spells the word "Welcome" - something artists have always been on the Terrace!

A closer view of the concrete sofa shows the interesting wall, niche and concrete pillows in more detail. Thanks to Robert Clark for his help with building the seat. Andy Tomlinson located the beautiful old oak in an old factory on Beevor Street. It was just going to be burned!

Richard was very keen to use recycled materials in his work. Here he uses tires as a flexible yet stable bed for his steps. A much better use for tyres than landfill or burning! I believe these steps are unique, although garbage warrior set the precedent in building with tyres!

This is one of several tile work plaques set into the crazy paving. It uses recycles pottery to make a mozaic and is both pretty and interesting.

A closer look at another plaque reveals the mozaic work.

Here is yet another attractive plaque set into the crazy paving. It gives a real Gaudi feel to the grotto which we love! These mosaics were produced by a group of artists with learning difficulties. The group is run by Phil Robinson and the artists now regularly do commissioned work for people as a result!

A view of the obelisks and the second bench reveals that these are built up on conical piles of used tyres. As you will see in my video, this reflects the urban environment and mirrors the coal-fired power stations which are visible on the horizon.

Richard's topiary animals are held in high regard by residents on the Terrace. They take much time and patience to create and maintain. He has created a cat and a dog so far. Thank you to Tim and Chrissie Plant for the donation of the forsythia which has stopped local children jumping on and damaging the dog!

This picture gives a closer view.... Richard had hoped also to make a topiary rabbit, but somebody keeps removing the structure he uses to encourage growth in an appropriate shape. We think this is down to pure envy and look forward to the day when the perpetrator grows up and allows him to finish!

Urban Art and Recycling

Alchemy Arts: Recycling Is Chic

by: Kate MacKay

Amazon Price: $14.96 (as of 12/28/2009)

Transformations: The Art of Recycling

by: Jeremy Coote, Chris Morton

Amazon Price: (as of 12/28/2009)

The Art of Placemaking: Interpreting Community Through Public Art and Urban Design

by: Ronald Lee Fleming

Amazon Price: $37.96 (as of 12/28/2009)

Street World: Urban Culture and Art from Five Continents

by: Roger Gastman, Caleb Neelon, Anthony Smyrski

Amazon Price: $23.10 (as of 12/28/2009)

New Topiary: Imaginative Techniques from Longwood

by: Patricia R. Hammer

Amazon Price: $33.88 (as of 12/28/2009)

A Secret Garden - Tribute to Richard Bett

Here is my offering, with thanks! I hope others will find it inspiring!

The video uses images displayed here as stills.

The music is "Jerusalem" by Parry. I arranged this myself as I wanted it to build from a simple cornet solo into a full and sonorous brass band piece that would reflect how we could indeed build Jerusalem among the "dark satanic mills" the power stations suggest if only we had drive and imagination!

A Secret Garden - A Tribute to Richard Bett

This is a tribute to Richard Bett (local sculptor, musician and jewellery designer) who was instrumental in securing funding for the Liquorice Park Millenium garden and has done so much to give the project its unique character working with recycled materials. We love the garden, the sculptures and the topiary and we love you too!!! Thank you Richard!

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Locals enjoy the Secret Garden

...to be added to as and when new work is completed...

Here flowers grow wild among the grasses and brambles. We think this beauty might be crocosmia.

When the sun sets in the West over the Secret Garden, the whole neighbourhood starts to glow....

Richard chats with Tim and Chrissie during a welcome break from his labours.

Ashley plays King of the Castle on the sofa....

And jokes about the dent he has left in the cushions....

Richard and Chrissie search for unusual plants and discover something fern-like....

Could this be liquorice returning to the park? Or is it Lady Fern?

Children love to play hide and seek among the sculptures.

The Secret Garden

Children's Classic by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Secret Garden

by: Frances Hodgson Burnett

Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 12/28/2009)

Didn't we all want to be part of this as children? A children's classic that gets right to the heart of what children often dream of - a place they can be completely themself - nothing changes....

More on Topiary and large scale garden sculpture

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GPWA Topiary Blog: Great Idea!

The topiary dogs here are amazing! Enjoy! :)0 points

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The Pet Blog: Topiary Art Designs

You just have to see these elephants!!!0 points

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AppalachianCountry AppalachianCountry Jul 30, 2009 @ 7:35 am

Beautiful, awesome lens. Who would discourage this art. It's wonderful. Thank-you. You are a true friend to Mr. Richard. 5 stars*****

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momto4 momto4 Jul 26, 2009 @ 10:38 am

NIce lens! I love all the pictures!

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Share the Secret!

Thanks A Million!

Topiary and Gardening

How to Make Topiary Animals

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Liquorice Park - The Visitors

Open day arrives at Liquorice Park and visitors come from "Green Spaces" to see the work done here by various groups, including Richard and his friends. This video shows some of the Green Spaces visit, including a surprise guest appearance of the Green Man.... I hope you enjoy the music as I wrote it!

Liquorice Park The Visitors

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Whats the Buzz about Liquorice Park?

Meerea Park XYZ Shiraz 2008
It's almost Christmas time, losers! - OFFICIAL LINKIN PARK MESSAGE ...
#2 – Liquorice Park, 19th September 2008 | LOON H³ Lincoln Hash ...
Liquorice Park sculptures Lincoln | This is Lincolnshire

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SF Recycling • Artist In Residence • Sculpture Garden

Fantastic sculpture garden in a dump! :)0 points

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Check out my favorite songs! I've handpicked these MP3s from Amazon. Take a listen. If you like, you can click to buy them on Amazon.

Proof that fans enjoy the benches Richard has constructed....

Lisa finds the sofa is surprisingly comfortable and lounges happily in the grotto - minus TV of course.... All the building work is thanks to Richard and his friends. Thank you particularly to Jamie Hawker for materials and advice!

What was formerly just an untidy and inaccessible part of Liquorice Park now is interesting and inviting. Only the old broken down fence reminds us what a mess it was only last year! We really owe our thanks to Richard and helpers Andy, Jamie and other unpaid volunteers....

At sunset the view can be breathtaking from here. Even the power stations can be beautiful in the right light. I wonder, did they also inspire the obelisks?

And as the sun finally begins its journey into night, we make our way back home to our terraced street feeling happy in the knowledge that beauty can be created from wasteland and unwanted objects...

Colin relaxes on the rustic bench, enjoys a leg stretch and contemplated the view.

Another mosaic, this time it depicts a tree.....

When you look back into the grotto you are never quite sure what new things you might find....

And who is this in the formerly empty niche? Why on Earth has the poor fellow been so badly used? What manner of heinousness brought this upon his miserable personage??? More details in the next slide....

We can honestly say that here we have found someone a little less comfortable with the soft furnishings.... Thanks to Dave Kitchen for his prisoner sculpture! The prisoner is a former dictator and he is being drowned by water rising in his cell!

So sad to watch the setting sun from such a dungeon.... Thanks to Bex for letting me know who made the prisoner and to Riccardo for confirming it was Dave Kitchen! I will try to credit and update work by other artists here whenever I can!