Sensory trail kit

We know that sensory gardens and sensory trails can be costly. They often involve significant investment in new infrastructure and design. Even small-scale projects can end up costing a few thousand pounds.

Having seen the frustrations of people wanting to put their ideas into action, but with limited budgets and time, we were keen to give people an alternative. We saw the need for something that would be quick and easy to install, low-cost and flexible so it could be used again and again in different settings or with different groups and time of year. This led to us creating Sensory Trail Markers.

Sensory Trail Markers are a simple, low cost solution to creating sensory trails in any outdoor setting. They are designed to highlight sensory stimuli and lead people on a fun journey of discovery. The kit contains markers and an instruction booklet - all you need to create your own sensory trail. The markers are reusable so you can change and adapt to the seasons.

The sensory story trail at Heligan used simple text accompanied by sensory trail markers and sensory experiences to tell the story of a black honey bee blown off course. The story tells of how the bee discovers the wonders of the woodland and the homes of other creatures that live in the woods as she tries to make her way back home to the hive.

The trail was used to encourage visitors to engage with the woodland environment through their senses as they followed the story of the bee.The markers denoted sensory highlights at each stage of the story giving permission to sniff or touch or taste each experience and the arrows kept people on track without having to use paper maps.