RELIGION

Prison’s Buddha garden and pagan grove win over inspectors

HMP Leyhill has been praised for its ‘excellent’ and varied faith provision
Kaya Burgess
, Religious Affairs Correspondent
The Times
Three per cent of prisoners at HMP Leyhill are Buddhist
Three per cent of prisoners at HMP Leyhill are Buddhist
Kaya Burgess
, Religious Affairs Correspondent
The Times

A prison has been praised by inspectors for its excellent faith facilities, including a “Buddha garden’ and a “pagan grove’ for inmates who follow nature-worshipping religions such as Wicca and Druidry.

HMP Leyhill is an open (category D) prison between Bristol and Gloucester, with facilities including tennis courts and what inspectors described as an “impressive sports field with a running track”. They did not repeat its occasional nickname, “the Savoy of slammers”.

An unannounced inspection was conducted in June last year and inspectors were particularly impressed by the worship areas for religious prisoners. The report, published in September by Charlie Taylor, the chief inspector of prisons, noted: “Faith facilities were excellent. They included a centrally located, pleasant and well-equipped chapel, a separate multifaith room and