It has long been a wish for staff and residents alike at Summerdyne to have a sensory garden. A place of tranquillity and a wonderful therapeutic oasis for residents and their families to enjoy.
Our plans for the sensory garden
Over the last few months we have been raising funds for the sensory garden. We hosted our brilliant Christmas fayre and had both Christmas and Easter raffles. Most recently, our residents knitted Easter chicks, cockerels and rabbits, which were sold at St Anne’s Primary School raising a further £55.00.
With these funds we have made a start on the sensory garden. The main path is laid with a patio area and the archways and fencing is being erected. We are also going to make some raised planters out of the left over pallets.
The sensory garden has been designed to be accessible for everyone. The paved path is wide enough for wheelchair access and raised trough planters and hanging baskets will mean our residents can reach all the plants.
Stimulating the senses
The planting scheme will give a variety of colour and mixed foliage, to visually appeal throughout the year. There will be contrasting shapes and sizes and plants to attract birds, butterflies and bees. The leaves of the plants we choose will range from fleshy succulent leaves to velvet soft leaves and feathery ferns. These will encourage touch.
Fragrant lavenders and hebes and aromatic herbs will appeal to the sense of smell. Herbs are lovely to pick and rub between fingers and we also hope to have fruit trees and berry bushes to pick.
Ideally, we would like a water feature in the garden, to attract the birds and give a calming babbling sound. We also want to encouraged bird and insect life in the garden with bird baths and nesting boxes.
Also it would be lovely to have a bench so people can sit and reflect or just take a moment to enjoy the garden.
Gardening therapy
In addition to stimulating the senses, being in the garden at one with nature, has many therapeutic benefits. These include relieving stress, alleviating depression and improving mobility and fine motor skills. There is a real sense of achievement in tending and nurturing plants. This garden will be a space our residents can enjoy and be proud of, to share with their friends and families.
Here are a picture of the work carried out so far. You can see we have some way to go and we would really appreciate your help this summer to complete our sensory garden project.
Stage 1 – the patio
Please could you help us complete the garden.
Do you have plants you could donate?
Do you have any sensory items, such as wind chimes, bells, a bird bath, a bird table or feeders you could donate?
Are you able to help us complete building the structural elements of the garden?
Are you green fingered and could you help us with planting?
We are appealing to your generosity and kindness and would be grateful for any spare pounds or pennies you could donate. With some extra funds we could buy compost, top soil and plants for the garden. We also have on our wish list watering cans, gardening gloves and tools for our residents.
Please contact us at Summerdyne if you can help in any way. We would love to hear from you.
Summerdyne Nursing Home
Cleobury Road
Bewdley
Worcestershire
DY12 2QQ
01299 403260
Any help would be hugely appreciated and would really help in making this wish a reality. Thank you from everyone at Summerdyne.