Nursery World - Enabling Environments: Sensory Gardens

Stimulate the senses, stretch children's skills and extend provision for special needs by developing a sensory garden, as one nursery shows Viv Hampshire how they did it.

The origins of the sensory garden lie in the physic, or herb, gardens, which first became popular more than 400 years ago. Their collections of aromatic plants and medicinal herbs boasted healing properties and presented the visitor with a fragrant and calming atmosphere, both pleasing to the eye and soothing to the spirit.

It is only in more recent times that the benefits of a much broader variety of sensory experiences for all, but particularly for the visually impaired and those with other special needs, have been realised. The modern sensory garden now combines carefully chosen plants with well-planned landscaping and seating, incorporating shapes, patterns and a variety of tactile features, often divided into separate zones, which work together to relax, educate, encourage exploration and stimulate all of the five senses.

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