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There is no experience as relaxing as gardening or even just being outside in nature, and for some, their garden is their most sacred space. Gardens can offer many therapeutic features for many reasons, and the idea of the sensory garden was born with this in mind.
What is a sensory garden?
As the name suggests, a sensory garden is a garden or outdoor space designed to engage the senses. Sensory gardens are built to encourage visitors to engage with them through touch, sight, listening and sometimes even through tasting.
Sensory gardens will often be built with a core audience in mind and can be found in public spaces, schools, nurseries and hospitals. They are usually sectioned off into different themes that either encourage users to roam freely or follow a journey.
The core purpose of a sensory garden, whoever uses it, is to completely engage the senses and provide an escape from the busy, hectic nature of real-life that some people can find incredibly overwhelming. They can also be used as a valuable, flexible teaching resource.
Who is a sensory garden for?
Although anyone can benefit from sensory gardens’ features, they are often created for people with sensory disorders and teaching purposes. The following groups can benefit greatly from visiting sensory gardens:
- Children. Sensory gardens are becoming common features in school playgrounds. They provide a calm space that doubles as a learning resource.
- Blind people. Sensory gardens designed for the blind tap into other senses, boasting a range of scented flowers, calming sounds and textured features[i].
- People with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). For children and adults with autism, sensory gardens offer a much needed safe space where they can experience a range of stimulation without being overwhelmed.
- Dementia patients. Sensory experiences are extremely valuable for people with dementia, as they help to keep the brain active. Extra attention should be paid to the safety of paths, entrances and exits when creating a sensory garden for people with dementia[ii].
Although these are often the types of group sensory gardens are built for, they can be wonderful places for those without sensory disorders to visit. They can be calming and peaceful places to help you gather your thoughts and let your mind wander.
Benefits of a sensory garden
There is an endless number of benefits to sensory gardens as they can be applied to so many different groups and be utilised in many ways. No matter their intended use, all sensory gardens should offer the following benefits:
- Promotion of physical activity – this is especially important for the elderly, children and those who are disabled[iii].
- Stimulation of the senses – sensory stimulation is the main point of a sensory garden. Awakening all of the senses in ways and combinations you don’t usually experience can be a wonderful sensation.
- Stress relief – whichever walk of life you come from and whatever challenges you face, you will reap the benefits of being outside in nature and sensory gardens are the perfect place to drop any stress you’re experiencing.
- Learning – sensory gardens are the perfect place to teach children and others a range of skills. From motor skills, to identifying different plants and wildlife, gardens are a never ending resource.
- Emotional regulation – if the sensory garden is used for growing crops and flowers, it can help children and adults alike to regulate their emotions by teaching them the benefits of patience.
- Motor skills – there are a lot of small, fiddly jobs to be done in gardens such as weeding and sowing seeds which can help to improve fine motor skills.
- Clearing hectic minds – time out in the fresh air amongst nature can be wonderful for clearing busy minds.
Sensory garden cost
How much a sensory garden costs really depends on what you want to do with it, but it’s possible to create an exciting space on a tight budget. Depending on the purpose of the garden and who it’s intended for, you may involve charities and local businesses to raise funds, donate sensory equipment, or help out with the physical labour.
Costs can vary massively depending on what you need and the space you’re working with, but will generally include the cost of a designer, the cost of any site surveys that are needed, construction workers, sensory toys and equipment, and of course the price of any plants, turf and other garden features.
How to make a sensory garden
Planning is vital for any project, and this is no different when creating a sensory garden.
Consider who the garden is for & plan accordingly.
When you decide to create a sensory garden, you must have an idea of who it is for. Your plans will depend on this groups ability and needs.
For example, suppose your garden is for older or physically disabled people. In that case, you’ll need to make sure the ground is level to avoid accidents, paths are wide and clear, and that entrances and exits are accessible. If you’re planning it for children, sensory features will need to be at child height so they can access them, and they should be age-appropriate. If your garden is for the blind, you should make sure that all signage is available in braille. If your garden will be utilised by ASD users, ensure louder equipment can be removed when needed and that there are spaces that appeal to different needs.
Where possible, all of these groups should be considered to create an inclusive garden that everyone can enjoy. You might engage the help of a professional planner to help you achieve the perfect design.
Decide how you will engage the senses
As we addressed further up in this guide, the point of a sensory garden is to engage the senses, so a huge part of planning is deciding how you’ll do this. Here are some ideas.
Light – the beauty of a sensory garden is that the light is already provided. Use natural sunlight to your advantage, create mirror displays and canopies that create interesting patterns along the floors and walls. Many sensory gardens use coloured glass and plastic to cast rainbows across their space.
Sight – add visual stimulation through colourful and interesting flowers, climbing plants and murals. You could even have a permanent visual scavenger hunt.
Smells – different smells can be achieved through planting very aromatic plants like herbs, roses, lavender and lemon trees. Smell can evoke a whole range of emotions and will help to engage the memory.
Sound – sounds can be incorporated into a sensory garden in many ways. Attracting wild birds is a great way to achieve a calming atmosphere, or you could invest in wind chimes and built-in instruments for your visitors to engage with.
Touch – an important element of any sensory garden is textures and items that can be touched. Consider where textured features can be added.
Taste – adding fruit plants, vegetables, herbs and edible flowers to a sensory garden is perfect when it is based in a school or within a community setting. Users can help the plants grow, and eventually sample them.
Add sensory toys and equipment
There are hundreds of ways you can boost the impact of your sensory garden by adding toys, equipment and interactive elements. If you have a tighter budget, you can make a lot of interesting sensory equipment yourself – just make sure it’s safe and appropriate for the group that will be using your garden the most. Some of our favourite ideas include:
- Seating – anything from smooth cornered banana benches to beanbags and textured outdoor sofas can add a special sensory element to your garden.
- Water features – these combine light, sight, touch and sound elements so are a worthwhile addition.
- Art areas – add an area where people can express their creativity. This can be as simple as a chalkboard.
- Instruments – windchimes, drums and glockenspiels are all great instruments to have in a sensory garden.
- Play sculptures – perfect for gardens within schools, wooden play sculptures allow children’s imaginations to run wild.
Enjoy your sensory garden
Wherever your garden is situated, it is certain to greatly benefit the group that use it, and it can be easily adapted to suit a huge range of needs. Remember to think outside the box whilst planning; sometimes the simplest solutions have the greatest impact!
References
Leonard, A., 2019. The Importance of Nature– Braille Trails and Sensory Gardens for the Blind. [Online]
Available at: https://www.maxiaids.com/the-importance-of-nature-braille-trails-and-sensory-gardens-for-the-blind
[Accessed February 2021].
Oomph! Wellness, 2019. How to create a dementia-friendly garden. [Online]
Available at: https://oomph-wellness.org/2019/07/25/how-to-create-a-dementia-friendly-garden/
[Accessed February 2021].
Sacare, 2018. 8 Cool Benefits of a Sensory Garden to the lives of people with a disability. [Online]
Available at: https://www.sacare.com.au/news/8-cool-benefits-of-a-sensory-garden-in-the-lives-of-people-with-disability
[Accessed February 2021].
Sources
[i] https://www.maxiaids.com/the-importance-of-nature-braille-trails-and-sensory-gardens-for-the-blind
[ii] https://oomph-wellness.org/2019/07/25/how-to-create-a-dementia-friendly-garden/
[iii] https://www.sacare.com.au/news/8-cool-benefits-of-a-sensory-garden-in-the-lives-of-people-with-disability
Anna is the marketing and office manager for Garden Benches – a premium supplier of high-quality wooden benches and other outdoor furniture.
