In recent days and weeks, Staff and Trustees of The Hidden Gardens have been subjected to personalised attacks made, both directly and via the media, by a small number of individuals who previously practised Tai Chi in the Gardens. Their allegations are false, without merit, and risk the safety and wellbeing of our Staff and Volunteers.

Organised Tai Chi sessions were previously delivered in The Gardens as part of an externally funded programme, which ended in 2024. When this funded programme ended, the sessions subsequently continued informally, without a qualified instructor or funding from The Hidden Gardens.

The Hidden Gardens is not a public park; it is a carefully managed outdoor community space with specific obligations to safety, insurance and responsible use. Any third-party individual or group that wants to use the gardens for an organised activity is required to complete a booking form and meet our conditions of booking. This includes having a named point of contact, providing a risk assessment and method statement, and demonstrating they have appropriate liability insurance. These requirements are applied to all of our external hires, without exception. We offered support to the Tai Chi group over many months so they could comply with these requirements. When it became clear the group was unable or unwilling to do so, regrettably, we had no option but to insist that its activity ceased.

Upon receipt of a complaint about this decision, the Trustees met with representatives of the former Tai Chi group to hear their concerns and consider whether a suitable solution could be achieved. Both parties agreed this was a constructive discussion, and we hoped we could move forward in good faith and rebuild trust between the group and The Gardens.

Unfortunately, actions taken by some members of the group in recent weeks mean this is no longer possible. As well as making false, unsubstantiated allegations about Staff members, they have inappropriately approached Volunteers and garden users attending activities in The Gardens, including people who have experienced conflict-related trauma. We are concerned that rather than working together towards a solution, these individuals are only intent on damaging The Gardens’ reputation and that of Staff members.

The Hidden Gardens exists to serve a wide and diverse community; however, Staff and Trustees are spending a disproportionate amount of time and energy dealing with people who are not willing to act reasonably, to the detriment of our wider community. We continue to support a wide range of activities in The Gardens, including professionally-led, age-appropriate movement classes that incorporate elements of Tai Chi as part of our official programme. We appreciate the continued support of our local communities and hope to welcome many of you to The Gardens this summer and beyond.

29/05/2026