At the end of May we marked the official opening of Bushy’s Wellbeing Garden. The garden is named in memory of Edward Bush, who left Moulsford in 2018, and tragically died in 2021 in a road traffic accident. Edward made an outstanding contribution to life at Moulsford, culminating in his appointment as Head Boy. Edward was incredibly kind, and was always looking out for others, and it is so fitting that the new garden should be in his memory.

This event was centred around the School and current Moulsford families. We remembered Edward, and both the School and the Bush family were very keen to acknowledge and give thanks to the very generous contribution of the Moulsford Parents Association in making this wonderful project possible. Edward’s mother, Annabel, joined us on this very special day.

There were short speeches from Headmaster Ben Beardmore-Gray, Jess Haworth (Chair of the PA), Annabel and Moulsford’s newly appointed Wellbeing Champions, who gave such a great message to their fellow pupils.

In March we held a separate event with Edward’s family, friends and Old Moles, to celebrate the garden and remember Edward, who would have turned 21 that month.

Here we were able to thank Clare Hobbs and Lucie Dutton (both past parents) who were instrumental in the planning, with every aspect of the garden’s design having a connection to Edward – for example, pinks and blues (his favourite colours), rosemary for remembrance, Annabelle hydrangeas, grasses for the Lion King, his Year 7 play – and one bed will pop up in Spring and bloom with red tulips and big Lion daffodils like a Moulsford blazer, around the time of Edward’s birthday. It is also very much for the enjoyment of the children, with plants called Little Monsters, funny shaped fruit, heart shaped leaves on the tree, and water mint which smells amazing.  

The garden has come into its own this summer term, and is being used in exactly the way Edward’s family and the PA envisaged. It has been a joy to see children playing, having fun and making friendships in this beautiful space, in the same way that Edward did during his Moulsford years.