A COLOURFUL sensory and memory garden has won a national competition.
Tabley House nursing home in Knutsford wowed judged in The Cygnet in Blooms awards.
Residents teamed up with staff and relatives to create a peaceful sanctuary.
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Tabley House manager Karen Lynskey said: “The aim of our sensory space is to stimulate residents to use all their senses to gain a positive, interactive and fun experience.
“We have used bright and vivid colours with reflective surfaces to make the zones stand out, including solar lighting for the evenings.
“Wind chimes in the trees, the solar panel water feature and the natural sounds of the Tabley grounds make for a relaxing atmosphere.
“We also have a range of fragrant planting from lavender to lemongrass.”
The home won £500 to develop the garden further.
Karen added: “Once the herb garden has been established, the team plan to use the herbs to enhance the flavours of resident’s meals.
“There are lots of different textures across each section, from the coarseness of the sand and shells within the seaside area to the smooth reflective surfaces of the sphere zone, the natural feel of the plants and the water feature.”
Residents have created a memory garden zone where they can put a message on pebbles to record their own special memory.
Personalised memories such as notes, spheres, lights and memory catchers can also be hung on trees.
Comfortable seating areas around the sensory zone, surrounded by seasonal flowers, provides a peaceful spot to sit and reflect.
Karen said: “When a resident passes, we would like to invite family members to write a name or message on a pebble, placing it in the remembrance garden.
“They can light a candle and staff on duty will be with them in support and to pay our respects.”
Gareth Williams, chief executive officer of Cygnet Social Care, said: “We wanted staff and residents to work together on a fun and engaging activity and to take pleasure in being outdoors with nature.
“We wanted everyone to put on their gardening gloves, take up their trowel and give it a go.
“I have been genuinely thrilled by the effort everyone has gone to in embracing this challenge.
“The creativity and inspiration the teams have shown, to repurpose, upcycle and grow from seed in just one month has been truly magical.
“Tabley’s sensory garden has everything that you could wish for.
“Colour, vibrancy, wind chimes, a solar panel water feature, a range of fragrant planting, a herb garden and most importantly a memory garden, where residents are able to customise their own pebbles to record their own special memory.
“The team and residents at Tabley should be very proud of their achievements.”
Karen added: “When a resident passes, we would like to invite family members to write a name or message on a pebble, placing it in the Remembrance Garden.
“They can light a candle and staff on duty will be with them in support and to pay our respects.
“We would like to thank Gareth and the team for the opportunity to develop our Sensory and Memory Garden even further and make it a vibrant place for all to enjoy.”
The remembrance section will be officially opened by three female residents who have all lost their spouses at Tabley recently.
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