Spotted! The scholar with her African cloth, turning York Museum Gardens into her peaceful, sustainable hideaway.

 

Whispers in the Garden: Sofonie Dala’s Green Retreat

Lately, Sofonie Dala has often been spotted at the Yorkshire Museum Gardens. Whether she’s just popping out for a bit of fun or coming back tired from her many duties, the garden seems to be her chosen point of rest.

People say she can stay there for hours, slipping into the calm between the old abbey walls and the trees.

And here’s the curious part—she even started carrying along her African green cloth. Instead of sitting on benches, she spreads it right on the grass, sometimes to read, sometimes to nap. It’s become her little outdoor ritual. Some passers-by smile, others whisper, but everyone notices: even when Sofonie rests, she does it the green and sustainable way.

A few lucky ones have seen her turning it into a self-photo session—posing quietly against the ruins, lying peacefully on her cloth, or simply catching the light between the branches. As if to say, this is me: rooted, mindful, and at home wherever nature welcomes me.

Gallery