What is a sensory garden?
“A sensory garden is a self-contained garden area that allows visitors to enjoy a wide variety of sensory experiences. Sensory gardens are designed to provide opportunities to stimulate the senses, both individually and in combination, in ways that users may not usually encounter”
A sensory garden is a space designed to stimulate all the senses, not only sight but also sound, touch, taste and smell.
This is the classic description of a sensory garden, its what I learned when I studied garden design. It's what is regurgitated every time a community/ school / hospital/ care home start thinking about an outside space. Can we have a sensory garden… please…
But that leaves me thinking;
Is that not just a garden?
Does a well designed garden not always stimulate all the senses?
So when I was asked recently about designing a sensory garden at a home for people with Dementia I started to reassess what that really means.
A sensory garden is really a client based garden, it should be built around the specific needs of the people using the space, the specific needs of the people it is designed for.
That could mean people suffering with autism but could also mean people with physical needs or mobility issues, people with mental health needs, special needs, the elderly, the young, people suffering a bereavement, the terminally ill or even the average office worker on their lunch break…
In the case of my design that would not only mean people with dementia but also their families, the caregivers and all the rest of the care homes staff.
A truly well designed sensory garden is one in which the specific needs of all the gardens visitors has been carefully thought through and incorporated into the design.
For some people such as the very young and some special needs that could mean adding bright colours and fun things to interact and play with, tactile plants and edible fruits a garden that is stimulating for hearing, touch and taste.
But for other people perhaps with anxiety or autism that might mean creating a calm and peaceful space with a soft colour palette and gentle sounds.
Creating a garden that feels safe and secure. With places to hide and to be alone, areas to quietly explore. A garden where there is nothing garish and with no loud noises.
For people suffering bereavement or the terminally ill that could mean filling the garden with rich beautiful planting, lush greens, gorgeous flowers with amazing scent.
Lots of seating areas with beautiful vistas and views. Things to touch and smell, soft leaves, herbs, grasses and flowers.
And the average office worker on their lunch break?
Well a space to breathe and relax, a calm seating area with lots of green planting and perhaps some grass to lie down or walk barefoot on for a moment of grounding and peace before heading back to the stress of work.
So what is a sensory garden?
It is whatever the people using the garden need.
It is whatever you want it to be...
And isn’t that what a well designed garden should always be?