Our Sensory Garden
Our sensory garden is a peaceful outdoor space designed for people living with dementia. Created in partnership with North Yorkshire charity Dementia Forward, it has been planted to engage sight, scent, touch and sound, giving residents, families and visitors a calm place to walk, sit and spend time together.
Why we created the garden
Time outdoors and contact with nature can bring comfort, calm and a sense of wellbeing, particularly for people living with dementia. Every plant in the garden has been chosen with this in mind. The beds are arranged so they can be seen and enjoyed easily from the surrounding paths, and the planting uses clear, recognisable shapes such as spheres, spikes and globes to make the space easier to understand and move around.
We have also included familiar cottage-garden flowers, such as daisies, phlox and delphiniums. Plants like these can bring back memories of gardens from earlier in life and offer a reassuring sense of recognition.
A garden for every sense
Sight: Bold colours, contrasting foliage and distinctive flower shapes, from golden yarrow to the dark, glossy leaves of coral bells.
Scent: Aromatic plants such as Korean mint and Russian sage release their fragrance when the leaves are gently brushed.
Touch: Soft, smooth, fuzzy and textured leaves invite residents to reach out and explore, including the thick, fleshy leaves of sedum.
Sound: Crocosmia leaves rustle in the wind, gaura stems sway in the slightest breeze, and the hum of bees brings the garden to life.
Interest in every season
The garden has been planted to offer something to enjoy throughout the year, from hellebores in the shaded oak tree beds to sedum flower heads that turn from green to pink and then rust-red in autumn. The semi-shaded area beneath the oak tree provides a softer, quieter space to rest and reflect.
The Tree of Hope
At the heart of the garden stands a Tree of Hope, a sapling grown from the much-loved Sycamore Gap tree on Hadrian's Wall. It is one of only 49 saplings gifted by the National Trust to places across the UK, one for each foot of the original tree's height.
Dementia Forward applied for the sapling after being inspired by a woman caring for her husband, who lives with young-onset dementia. The tree stands as a symbol of hope and resilience, and a reminder that people living with dementia can continue to enjoy life alongside their family and friends.
Designed with care
The garden was designed by our gardener, Lizzie Crichton. If you have any questions about the planting or would like to learn more about its sensory features, please speak to Lizzie or any member of our garden team.
Our Sensory Garden Guide includes the full planting plan for each bed and a closer look at the featured plants to look out for on your visit.
Visit the garden
To see the sensory garden for yourself or find out more about dementia care at Lavender Fields, please get in touch to arrange a visit.