In 2015, Val and Burt Hills, a Lincolnshire couple, left the Lincolnshire Police force a bequest. Chief Constable Neil Rhodes wanted to ensure that their generosity was remembered. The force decided to build a new bespoke memorial garden that would stand the test of time, and ensure that those from the policing family who died during service will be remembered with reverence.Lincolnshire Police held a national competition to design and implement the garden, which would serve as a place of contemplation and be in keeping with its setting at Lincolnshire Police HQ. Parkwood Consultancy Services and its epd team entered the competition with a simple, strong design concept, and in mid-2016 were awarded the commission. The garden was opened in January 2017 by the Bishop of Lincoln, the Rt Revd Christopher Lowson, and the ribbon cut by Lord Lieutenant for Lincolnshire Tony Dennis with Chief Constable Neil Rhodes.The garden features nine pillars, each with a single word representing one of Sir Robert Peel’s Principles of Policing: Prevention, Approval, Cooperation, Proportionate, Impartiality, Restorative, Relationships, Humility and Integrity. The sculpture symbolises the community working as one, represented by the steel rods running up through the centre of the piece, embodying the public cooperation and social cohesion that Sir Robert Peel believed should underpin ethical policing.To make the memorial more accessible to the wider public, epd crown lifted some of the trees at the entrance, allowing passing views into the garden. The central feature was supported by the simplistic planting of 21 yew trees, one for each century in the Gregorian calendar.It was important that the project reflected the local landscape, and the design makes use of underlying symbolism to add to the sense of restfulness and stillness the garden creates. Much of the design is based on the ‘golden ratio’ of 1:618 that is often seen in the natural world: at 1.2m in width and 1.9m in height, the walls of the garden reflect this. Furthermore, the material used in the construction of the walls and surface were all sourced and bought locally. Being indigenous to the area, they become part of the fabric of the landscape, further contributing to a sense of harmony and belonging.
