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A Japanese Peace Garden is hoped to be an area of “national significance” when it opens in Coventry’s War Memorial Park in the summer.

The project has been designed in conjunction with pupils from five primary schools in the city to help share a message of peace and reconciliation.

It is set to open on June 20 as part of a pupil-led Japan Arts Festival.

Rebecca Bollands, deputy head of Howes Primary School, one of the five schools involved said: “The garden project is of huge importance to the children as they have a strong commitment to their city being an international centre for peace and reconciliation.

“The children decided to create a permanent public space for people to reflect on these important themes.

“It is fantastic that young people are being given the opportunity to take responsibility for peace and reconciliation projects in Coventry.”

The project has been pieced together with the help of renowned Japanese garden designer Robert Ketchell, who has been bestowed with the Order of the Rising Sun from the Japanese Ambassador for his contribution to Japanese gardens in the UK.

The design is known as a ‘karesansui’ garden, or a ‘dry garden’.

A key feature will be the ‘Islands of Peace’, while there will also be a gingko tree, viewing platforms and Japanese cherry trees known as sakura trees, all surrounded by a low wall with a traditional Japanese partial roof.

(Image: PA)

Mrs Bollands added: “We know that this garden will be a key part of Coventry’s landscape.

“It won’t just be important to the people of Coventry but we know from the experience of the Japanese Garden Society that it will become a garden of national experience from their experience of building similar gardens in National Trust properties.

“This particular one, the site and importance of it, will attract people not only from around the UK but abroad.”

Other primary schools involved are Broad Heath Primary School; Stivichall Primary School; Finham Primary School and Park Hill Primary School.

Pupils from all schools visited Japan last November as part of the education work linked to Japan under the Coventry Young Ambassadors programme.

Children were inspired to create the garden after a video call with a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945.

Coventry City Council’s cabinet member for finance Cllr John Mutton signed off £30,000 funding towards the scheme on Thursday, March 5, while other funding has been found from private sponsors.

Mrs Bollands said: “The children are really very grateful of the council’s support and in particular Cllr Mutton who has listened to the young people in the city and let them take the lead on issues to do with the city.”