Sensory Garden Design Advice

Unfortunately we can't answer individual enquiries regarding Sensory Garden projects. The good news is that all the information we have is in this web site, or in our publication Making Connections.

Design approaches to inclusive multi-sensory environment design.

Key principles to guide your approach:

Working with, not for, people.

Don’t assume you understand the needs and preferences of your target user groups.
Begin with a thorough appreciation of the stakeholders and beneficiaries of the project:
when do they wish to use the space? What do they want to do there? What is the range of ability within the user groups?
Listen to and involve your intended user groups at all stages of the project.

Integration not segregation.

When designing for people with specific disabilities, remember the other users of the space; friends or carers.
Design for everyone to enjoy the space equally.

Sensory stimulation: making the point clearly.

A Sensory Garden is much more than raised beds and lavender. Opportunities exist to enrich everyone’s experience though design for the full range of the senses.
From your consultations you will know who your potential users are, and what they want to do. Design appropriately and deliberately with clear sensory objectives.
The research, case studies and techniques are out there. Get the design specification right. You will find a lot of useful information on this site, for example in our Information Sheets Sensory Design and Designing for Outdoor Access. For other sources on the web, have a look through our links section.
Make sure you get the 'right plant in the right place’ in terms of growing conditions. In selecting plants, be clear about the sensory effect you wish to achieve: touch and texture, smell, taste and scent, sound in the wind and when touched, contrasting plant form and shape, movement of light and shadow beneath.

Management and sustainability.

Plan for more than design and construction. Consider how your project will be maintained and cared for. Will the users become involved, as part of an educational project perhaps? How will the care of your project fit in with any existing maintenance programs? Involve existing site managers in the design of your maintenance program.
Involve the surrounding neighbours and the user community in design and construction. Build a sense of ownership in the place and in the management process.
Work within the limits of how much ownership is possible in order to determine a sustainable level of maintenance balanced with a rich sensory environment.
Maintenance can become enjoyable and useful if it is made part of celebration, play or educational activity. Horticultural or other collaborative development activity can be designed into the project.

Opportunities to use it.

Innovative site design and management is more effective if there is appropriate user information and interpretation.
Include budget for promotional information such as pre-visit leaflets.
Potential users need to know what facilities you provide in order to make an informed decision about whether to go or not.
Try to involve transport providers, and consult on the most likely way people will come to your site. Design information provision accordingly.
Ensure that your information and interpretation provision is accessible to your target user groups.

Not just a load of old lavender...

...or wind chimes or water features.

There's a lot to think about when you design and build a sensory garden. Thanks to support from the Lloyds TSB foundation and the Big Lottery we have put together a number of free online booklets and factsheets to help you make the most of your project.

See the online resources section for a full list.

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