After spending a considerable amount of time in lockdown during the pandemic, ideas and plans were drawn up by residents and Fred Smith, the Activity Coordinator, to transform an empty patio space into a brand new sensory garden, he said “Being in lockdown and stuck mostly indoors during the pandemic highlighted the need to make the most of the available space at Ellen Mhor and the sensory garden was a superb idea to give everyone a relaxing and engaging outdoor space that would add to the environment to make it even more special.”
The plans were then discussed collectively at the house meetings and passed over to management, who fully supported the idea. Spring of 2022 was earmarked for the hard work to begin to transform the outdoor space. The timing worked out well as lockdown restrictions returned in early 2022, so the time spent productively working on the sensory garden kept everyone busy and lifted spirits.
Every resident at Ellen Mhor played a vital part in the creation of the garden and contributed in every phase of development, from providing ideas and feedback in the planning stage, to building and painting furniture, planting flowers, collecting items from local nature spots for various sensory elements and even making their own mosaic artwork to display in the garden.
Fiona, a resident who helped make tactile touch pads for the garden and painted some of the garden furniture said
“It’s good having a new garden. I really like the rocks [in the sensory touch tiles] and I helped to make that. I am looking forward to going out there in the summer to eat my lunch and having somewhere to relax.”Fiona – Resident at Ellen Mhor
Lori Sutherland, Deputy Service Manager at Ellen Mhor commented: “Fred has done an outstanding job at getting this project completed. All residents have been involved in one way or another which makes this even more special and meaningful to everyone that will be making use of the area. It’s so nice to see an area that has never been properly used turned into a fully functioning sensory garden that everyone can now enjoy!”
We think the new garden looks fantastic!
