The Benefits of a Sensory Garden

What Is A Sensory Garden?

A sensory garden is the ideal way to help improve the sensory development of those in your care. With it being summer it makes sense to create a great outdoor space to allow those in your care to explore their senses in a fun filled and safe environment.

A sensory garden is an outdoor garden environment designed to stimulate a person’s senses. Using a combination of the landscape, the aromas and colors of plants and flowers and stimulating interactive sensory equipment, you can transform any outdoor space into a sensory garden to help encourage sensory play which is a great way of developing and improving senses.

What are the Benefits of a Sensory Garden?

A sensory garden, is a great place for a wide range of people to have a chance to explore their senses in a safe and fun environment. Those with differing sensory disorders can all take different positives from the sensory garden as well as those without sensory conditions – the benefit being they are all in one place and are combinations and individual sensations that they wouldn’t normally experience.

How to Create a Sensory Garden

It is important to create an environment that is stimulating, interactive and accessible for a wide variety of people of all abilities while creating a sensory garden. Some things to consider include:

Think about your users, as there will be people of different ages and abilities in the garden so the equipment and landscape needs to be accommodating and safe so as not to stop anyone enjoying themselves
Make your journey round the sensory garden interesting – winding pathways are far more exciting than a straight path from a to b! However make it wide enough and easy enough for any users in wheelchairs or using other walking aids to get around it
Pick plants and flowers that have interesting colors and smells, in order to make the environment more attractive and appealing (don’t go for anything that will be harmful to inquisitive guests)
Choose sensory equipment that is fun, engaging and combines sensory stimulation with helpful developmental benefits. There are a whole host of options available, and different environments and needs will be suited to different equipment. For example some larger areas can accommodate bigger pieces of equipment and some people may be suited to more active equipment than others.
Appeal to younger generations with activities such as a sand pit to allow them to use their energy and creativity
Have seating in your sensory garden – this is so that those who have limited mobility or less stamina for one reason or another can still sit and

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When it comes to creating a sensory garden, Experia should be your first port of call. We have a wealth of experience at tailor making high quality sensory environments, whether those are a sensory room or a sensory garden. We understand that different establishments will have different needs, and because of this, our team will help you create a bespoke solution for you! Contact us today and see what we can do to help with any of your sensory projects.