The YAA Reflection & Remembrance Garden
A place of peace and tranquility
Found among the specialist gardens at Roundhay Park in Leeds, the garden is a place where those who have been affected by the work of YAA can come to remember and reflect on their experiences, or in memory of loved ones. Alternatively, anyone can come to enjoy the calm and serenity we hope it brings.
Originally designed for the Harrogate Spring Flower Show in 2024 by Kate Smithson, the garden won Gold and Best in Show Awards.
We are delighted and grateful to Leeds City Council for allowing the garden to have its permanent home in Roundhay Park, where everyone can enjoy it for years to come.
Taking centre stage is the metal, yellow pergola, which reflects the blades and colours of the YAA helicopters. Soft, billowing planting and a central reflective pool celebrate the varied landscapes of Yorkshire that the helicopters fly over on a daily basis. The space aims to exude calmness and tranquillity, contrasting the major trauma YAA deals with every day.
Meet the Designer – Kate Smithson
A graduate of the Yorkshire School of Garden Design, Kate has worked in some of the best known gardens in Yorkshire, including Harewood House, Goddards (National Trust), Middlethorpe Hall, and Rudding Park Hotel and Spa. Kate also studied Biology at university with a particular focus on plant biology.
Kate’s design was brought to life with the help of landscaper Nick Fryer, who was instrumental in building the garden at both the flower show and at its permanent home in Roundhay Park.
The garden would not have been possible without generous funding and support from several charitable sponsors and grant funders.
We would like to give special thanks to the North of England Horticultural Society, The Peacock (Leeds) Trust, R B Gray Charitable Trust, The Arnold Burton 1998 Charitable Trust, Ilkley Charitable Trust, The Bramhope Trust and the following Leeds City Council Community Committees; Inner North East, Inner East, Outer North West and Outer East and Redmayne Bentley and Woods Fine Linen (Harrogate).
We would also like to thank all of the suppliers who we involved in making this garden possible:
Kendrew Architectural Metalwork, Urbis Design, Tradstone, Wykeham Mature Plants, D-Tail Plants, Tong Garden Centre, Cliff Bank Nursery, Joanne Crawford Photographer, Viridis Plants, Johnsons Nurseries, Harrogate Flower Shows, NEHS (North of England Horticultural Society) and Camphill Wakefield.
Finding the garden & parking
The specialist gardens are located opposite the car park at the back of the Roundhay Fox pub on Mansion Lane, LS8 2EP.
The opening hours are 9 am to 3:30 pm daily.
The specialist gardens are accessible for wheelchair users.
The closest parking to the specialist gardens is street parking on Mansion Lane, behind the Roundhay Fox pub off Mansion and in the small car park at the end of Mansion Lane by the Mansion. Please note there may be parking charges at some locations.
“The garden looks amazing and it is wonderful news that it has found a permenant home at Roundhay Park. Our heartiest congratualtion to everyone concerned. We are looking foward to visiting it now that it is in place at Roundhay.”
R B Charitable Trust