Jayne in the Sensory Garden

Our Stories

Jayne and the sensory garden

Jayne is supported by United Response in Swindon.

Jayne, who has a learning disability and limited verbal communication, started making regular visits to a sensory garden six months ago. From Jayne's reactions, it is clear that she really enjoys being there. She will often spend a lot of time listening to the wind chimes and smelling and touching the flowers and plants.

There is a communal garden that Jayne and 14 other people supported by United Response in the area have access to, but at the moment it is is not suitable for their needs.

Jayne said:

"I love the other garden and wish I had a sensory garden at my home."

United Response would like to build a garden that meets all of the needs of the people they support in the area.

Jayne and some of the other people who will be using the garden particularly enjoy cooking. United Response would like to create an area where they will be able to grow their own aromatic herbs, helping to create a link between plants and cooking.

One man who will also be using the garden has profound learning disabilities. He loves being outdoors but he particularly likes sitting outside when it is raining as he loves the sound and sensation of water falling on him. United Response would like to create a water feature so that he could run his fingers through it and listen to its therapeutic sounds.

One of the women that will be using the garden uses a wheelchair. She likes being outside, but at the moment she can only go as far as the patio area at the front of the garden. United Response would like to change this by building accessible pathways and creating an area with raised flower beds.

Through the 'Britain's Most Imaginative Garden' appeal, United Response wants to create a garden that all these people can enjoy and will find stimulating.