I’m currently designing a garden for a Elderly Care Facility. Designing a garden for the elderly or infirm, I feel, requires a balance of aesthetics, accessibility, and sensory engagement. My goal is to create a space that allows residents to meander through it at their own pace, enjoying the pathways and gentle curves. For those unable to venture outside or during inclement weather, the garden will also be designed to be admired from the indoors, offering year-round visual interest.

A sensory selection, focusing on smell, sound and texture have been quite important, but also colour. Different foliage contrasts, and flowers in every season, carefully chosen to provide therapeutic benefits and evoke cherished memories..

The trick is how to not overwhelm the space.

Seasonal interest is key, ensuring the garden evolves and delights throughout the year. For example, a winter palette might feature pink and white hues with White Forsythia (Abeliophyllum distichum), Daphne, Skimmia japonica, and Snowdrops, adding life to colder months.

The planning continues!