Sensory garden begins taking shape

March 6, 2019 by Leigh-on-sea.com

A community garden designed to improve the wellbeing of residents living with Dementia is being installed next to Southend Central Museum by the council’s parks team.

The wellbeing garden will be a place for mindfulness and relaxation, enabling people to benefit from sunlight, fresh air and nature. It has been developed as part of the Museum’s increasing wellbeing engagement alongside the Parks department at the council.

The design of the garden is to set out as an accessible green space to be enjoyed by all, particularly those living with dementia and their carers. There will be a large, circular path accessible by wheelchair users, surrounded by flowerbeds with plants specifically selected for their sensory and tactile qualities, whilst also encouraging wildlife into the garden 

The works are on course to be completed by mid-April, and the Museum will host future events in the garden, working in partnership with the Parks team and the Dementia team. 

Cllr Lesley Salter, cabinet member for healthy communities and wellbeing, said: “This new garden will open up valuable green space for those who need it most. It will be an open space with refreshing flowers and seating areas that offers a space to relax and contemplate.

“Using green spaces as an area to keep residents safe and well is something that we picked up through our 2050 engagement work and we are delighted this long-disused space will be open to the public.”

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