Throughout history, special gardens have been created with engage sight, sound, smell, scent and taste. Known as sensory gardens, they are designed to stimulate one or more of the five senses and be suitable for all to access - both able bodied and disabled. They entice a visitor to view plants at at close range, to reach out and touch them, to inhale their fragrance, to listen for sounds. To actively experience the garden with all their senses.
Sensory gardens can be designed for spaces of all sizes, from small courtyards or borders, to containers and raised beds. Garden “rooms” can be designed to stimulate one sense at a time or multiple senses simultaneously. These multi-functional gardens can also be used for teaching and relaxing alongside multiple therapies. Some sensory gardens are design specific, for example, they can be created for children, the visually impaired, tactile or kinaesthetic learners, and for therapeutic horticulture.
Including raised beds and wider pathways in their garden landscaping allows sensory gardens to be accessible to all. A sensory garden is focussed on stimulating and engaging. In such a garden, there could be a lively rhythm of colours dotting the landscape, attracting wildlife this garden brings the song of nearby birds on the way to a herb garden. There encased in the scent of rosemary as hands feel the spikiness of the fresh-cut sprigs used to flavour a home-cooked meal.
Connect to the 4 elements (earth, water, fire, air): 4-3-2-1 nature connection exercise
Spending time in a sensory garden can help enhance a sense of wellbeing, reduce stress and calm the mind. This type of garden design not only supports a connection with nature, but encourages more awareness of surroundings and the response to them, tapping into the principles of mindfulness: by making a space during a chaotic time to centre a person in nature. The 4 elements activity can be done anywhere in nature, a back garden or just standing outside the back door. Here's what to do:
Notice 4 things that you see: Rest your eyes on these 4 things, take them in one at a time.
Listen for 3 sounds that you hear: Really tune into each sound; let each sound come to you.
Focus on 2 things that you can feel: wind on your skin, material of clothes on your body or your feet on the earth.
Pay attention to 1 thing you can smell or touch: The earthy smell in the air, the smell of spring blossom, the touch of a tree trunk or bush, a stone, a leaf or the grass.
Sensory garden design tips
1. Consider your lifestyle when planning to avoid sensory overload
Modern life can sometimes bombard us with information, causing a sensory overload. Gardening can be the perfect tonic and the act of gardening, of nurturing plants, can do many things to help, but by thinking about each of the 5 senses when gardening can heighten that experience to make it something even more fulfilling. First, to tailor a sensory garden fit for certain needs and lifestyle. For example, to feel enlivened, consider a sensory garden that incorporates hot colours to excite the eye and revitalise. Conversely, if with a high-stress occupation, look for aromatic plants and fragrant flowers to soothe. Age plays a role, too, because as we age, bright colours and contrasts within colour palettes are easier to enjoy. One way is to journey through the senses by separating a garden into distinct sense zones, such as sight, smell or taste. Or you can bring together and mix different elements to engage multiple senses at once.
2. Match plants to the growing conditions
A sensory garden is meant to be an enjoyable space that is easy to manage. Focus on plants that are adapted to the space and environmental constraints, e.g. moisture levels, sun exposure, and soil type. The healthier the plants, the more is given from their inherent sensory qualities of various colours, height, textures and bloom times. Plants need to be people friendly and are not poisonous or allergenic plants. Also avoid plants that require pesticides. Select plants with contrasting forms and textures to create visual interest. Low mounds of tactile carex grass next to tall spires of flowers work well in terms of shape and texture. Brushing against plants spilling over the edge of a raised bed offers a tactile experience that can be enhanced by a fragrant plant choice like lavender or rosemary.
3. Embrace seasonal changes
Plants are highly seasonal and will adapt as the seasons change. Evergreens and those with interesting winter shapes provide interest during the shortest of winter days. Add and subtract plants in phases by starting with a foundation and layering in plants (or sensory techniques) based on any gaps that need filling experience - a sensory garden must be experienced before any conclusions can be made.
4. Sensory garden hard landscaping
The different textures of hard landscaping, such as large rocks or driftwood, can be added to provide visual and tactile experiences. Pathway corridors made of various materials such as sand, woodchip, flagstone, grass, decking or flat steppingstones craft distinctive tactile and auditory experiences. Interpretive signs are important to encourage people-plant interaction or mindfulness. Having a bench or seating area in your garden can give you the perfect opportunity to sit back, relax and admire natural surroundings while conducting mindfulness. Raised beds to help the disabled access the garden easily and participate in plant care or touch. Flowing water features and accessible garden showers create fluid sensory experiences through sight, sound, and touch. A bird bath will create beautiful reflections, add fluidity and contrasting texture, and attract wildlife and a range of pretty birds. Grass mounds to lye on, swings to feel the breeze and shade sails to create much needed respite from hot summer sunshine. Insect houses, pollen provision and bird feeders invite winged visitors to enjoy the garden, buzzing and chirping as they busy themselves.
5. Sensory gardens must be accessible and usable
Details like path widths, surfaces, and gradients as well as access to toilets and opportunities to sit and rest. The Sensory Trust provides an Access Chain to help people review access through the perspective of a specific user.
Sensory design calls for extra effort to make sure different experiences are in reach. For example, trees may be deliberately planted near to a path so the bark can be felt rather than setting it back as it would in a standard design. Or to train fruit trees along wires to keep them at a lower height for picking from as wheelchair.
Seating is one of the most important features in sensory garden landscape design for those who tire easily. Seating with shelter from sun or rain is important and the ideal is to create a range from solid to dappled shade so people can choose.
A robust build will encourage disabled users to explore, touch, pick, smell or crush plants and interact with objects. Plants and materials that tolerate inevitable damage from inquisitive hands or disposable plants that get regularly replaced.
In some gardens it might be appropriate to introduce more challenge in selected areas that are not part of the main route. This could include the provision of slopes, steps or other features to test or stretch mobility skills.
Engaging the senses, plus a few more
Sight - One of the most obvious ways to stimulate the senses in your garden is by sight. Create a sensory feast of diverse plant colour, shape, size, texture and patterns. Bright and bold flowers, like a rainbow of native wildflowers which also attract pollinating bees and butterflies, adding movement and an extra visual dimension. A variety of architecture, height, shape, hues, and patterns can be created with different species of trees, shrubs and other plants - Ornamental grasses, such as pampas grasses, and architectural seed heads, can add interesting structure and movement all year round. Leaves with striking natural designs add drama to sensory display. Mix up the presentation by choosing creeping, hanging, straight standing, or miniature plant species.
Visual contrast is particularly valuable for people with visual impairments who have some residual sight. Consider how contrast can be achieved in planting designs (through leaf and flower colour combinations), on hard surfaces (art work, painted markings on hard surfaces) and in art materials. From an accessibility perspective, good colour contrast will help visually impaired people find their way around independently. Consider contrast of paths and edgings, features of particular interest, furniture, signage, way-marking features and any obstacles on routes.
Smell - Freshly cut grass, earthy aromas, and beautiful floral fragrances are some of the great garden scents to stimulate a sense of smell. Enhance sensory experiences with a concoction of various aromatic plants, from strong-scented roses, honeysuckle and jasmine, to lavender, rosemary, mint and sage. Deliciously scented herbs are particularly great as they are multi-sensory and also stimulate the taste sense.
Sound - Elements in a sensory garden that create contrasting sounds is important. Stimulate hearing with trickling water by incorporating a waterfall or fountain. Wind rustling through the leaves on trees, bamboo stems, grasses, and plant foliage makes different sounds as they sway with the breeze. Plant native wildflowers to hear the sound of buzzing bees and other insect pollinators. Keep birds happy and present by having a bird bath and feeder with places to hide. Bird song is a beautiful and musical addition to the aural landscape. Different pathways will omit different sounds as people traverse the garden across their surfaces.
Consider both sounds that occur naturally and those that can be activated by people. Natural sounds include; leaves rustling in the wind, birds singing, water tricking/dripping/splashing, rain on an overhead cover. Activated sounds include; splashing water, striking chimes and sound sculptures. Deaf people will be able to sense vibrations and percussive sounds and these can be provided through sculpture and features such as deer-scarers (Chinese tapping water features). "Sound fences", activated by dragging a stick along a series of lengths of tubing or piping are melodious and fun.
Touch - To create sensory delight for your touch, you’ll want to make the most of different surfaces and textures. Incorporate contrasting elements that are hard, soft, smooth, rough, solid or fluid. The soft furry leaves, feathery and plumed ornamental grasses, and the smooth surface of succulents are all lovely and soothing to touch. Rough seedpods, tree bark and spongy mosses all offer a variety of fun textures. Walls, sculptures and other structures can add a stimulating textural element to a sensory garden, whether made from stone, brick, glass or metal. Water features are wonderful for engaging touch, as the fluid water flows over hands or feet, offering a refreshing contrast.
Add temporary materials - bark mulch, leaves, straw - to add variety to materials to sit, walk, lie on. Involve an artist to add tactile interest through permanent and temporary installations. Choose plants with interesting textures in their flowers, leaves, berries, seeds, bark, twigs to cover rough, smooth, ridged, hairy, bumpy, soft, squidgy, fluffy, etc. The value of texture for engaging with the environment can stimulate those with visual impairments.
Taste - Scintillate taste buds with fresh herb, vegetable and fruit options for a taste garden.
Orientation, gravity and balance - Aspects of path design, such as width, change in direction, branching, slopes and ability to see a destination or end point all influence speed of travel and sense of mystery and invitation. Therefore paths in sensory gardens and trails can be seen to have much more potential than simply providing direct access. Orientation skills may also be developed by providing things for people to stand on or climb up (logs, trees, platforms, bridges, stages) that test or develop balance and which act as markers in the landscape. In education programmes, the objective may be to introduce such basic concepts as up, down, high and low (this may be done by incorporating objects that can be repositioned such as hanging baskets and mobiles).
Cause and effect - A range of practical landscape features can be used to get people involved. For example, interactive sculptures on which people can pull levers, press switches or activate touch-sensitive pads to produce different effects. Other possibilities include gear wheels, pulleys, balances and water which moves through a series of pools or channels. Such features can also be valuable in education programmes for demonstrating cause and effect.
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