Our Garden Project for 2020 is to transform a blank canvas to a sensory oasis of calm. Are you green fingered? We need your help and are therefore sending out this Garden SOS!
Our plans
We currently have an area of lawn and patio at the rear of the ground floor lounge. It is a good space and a bit of a sun trap. We have had lots of happy times there – especially with the tiny tots who come to visit. They love racing about outside popping bubbles from our bubble machine!
It is rather uninspiring though, especially as a view from the windows during the winter months. We have consulted with residents and our Gardening Group have spent a long time thinking through and drawing up plans. These include:
- An additional seating area, under a wooden pergola, shaded by a canvas sail. A stepping stone path will link the pergola to the patio area.
- A wildlife area with insect friendly planting, wildflowers and bee loving flowers. There will be a bug hotel, hedgehog house, bird baths and bird tables and other wildlife friendly installations.
- Hazel hurdle seats built into the bank surrounded by calming lavender.
- Two raised vegetable beds, for easy planting access for residents and easily accessible by wheelchair. There will be a bean arch wheelchairs can be pushed through so residents can pick produce.
- Sensory planting with bedding plants and annuals such as jasmine, honeysuckle and sweet peas. Scented plants that can be enjoyed in flower arrangements in our home and flower through the summer.
- More structural planting in the lawn itself of a couple of acer trees to give some vibrant colour in different seasons.
Implementing our Garden Project
The plans are on display at The Lawns and we welcome any comments or suggestions. In particular, we would love any help you can offer to put the plans in place.
We are having a Gardening Day on Saturday 2nd May. This links the Garden Project to National Gardening Week, which is an RHS celebration of gardening. This years theme is “Sowing the Seeds of Friendship”.
Would you be able to spare an hour or two to help us pull this together? Please speak to or email Joy Hoskins if you are able to help – [email protected]
Bacon sandwiches and tea will be provided along with a cold beer or two!
