The Friendly Bench

The Friendly Bench

The Friendly Bench on High Street, Hillmorton is the first in Warwickshire and one of only a handful in England.

Designed to tackle loneliness and social isolation, this beautiful outdoor meeting space and sensory garden is for people of all ages. When Covid-19 restrictions allow, The Friendly Bench will host arts and crafts events, coffee mornings, seated exercise classes and drama and music performances. If you want to get involved please contact us at events@heartcg.org.

To see past events at The Friendly Bench please click Events and Resources 

Please adhere to current Covid-19 restrictions when using The Friendly Bench.

Inspiring women display at The Friendly Bench

Local Rugby residents celebrated the women who inspire them at a display at The Friendly Bench on High Street, Hillmorton for International Women’s Day on 8th March 2023.

The display, organised by volunteers from Hillmorton and East Rugby Together Community Group – HEaRT, included personal reflections on friends, family members as well as famous figures.

Hetty Cook, aged 6, a pupil at Eastlands Primary School, wrote about her teacher, Mrs Vikmanis, who she said, “is the kindest person I know” and “she makes me feel happy whenever I see her.” Hetty’s mum, Leona Dominy, added: “It’s so important to say these things out loud about the inspiring women we meet every day. We often think it, but when you say it out loud you really feel it.”

Storytelling at The Friendly Bench

People of all ages gathered at The Friendly Bench at 2pm each Tuesday during the 2021 summer school holidays to listen to magical tales from around the world. Pete Boyce, experienced storyteller, led fascinating and interactive sessions with tales he had researched and adapted, while the audience shared their local Warwickshire stories.  New connections, new friendships and new interests were sparked.

Valentine's Day Love Letters and Poems

Residents enjoyed the colourful decorations at The Friendly Bench 13th to 20th February when they took their daily exercise.  The display of knitted and stitched roses and hearts thanks to the Womens' Institute  and busy local residents incorporated love letters and poems to lift the spirits.  You can still listen out for some of the letters and poems voiced by actors and other volunteers on 14th February on our website.

Photographs from around our area