Much of the Ecology Centre’s educational work involves using different senses. The aim is to provide a pleasant place to sit and experience a wide range of different sights, sounds, smells and touches. We hope that it will improve our facilities for all our visitors including ones with disabilities.

Design of the garden began in spring 1996 after discussions with local disability groups. Sponsorship for the first stage, the hard landscaping, was from CFM, a local computer company. Professional expertise given freely, by Landscape Designer Alison Humphies, has been essential, as has the practical work by the Sutton Nature Conservation Volunteers.

Planting was done by groups of enthusiastic young people from Sutton Mencap, and ‘Kairos’, a local women artists group, did the willow structures.

The colourful bed is replanted every spring with brightly coloured summer flowers to focus on the sense of sight. The adjacent bed contains different grasses which make different sounds in the wind or when you shake them (this bed is going to be converted into a pond). The bed opposite contains plants with different textured leaves to encourage touch and the adjacent bed contains herbs and other nice smelling plants to encourage the sense of smell.

Future work will involve local community groups in planting shrubs, herbs and flowers. We also hope to introduce some sculpture and artwork to this garden. We are busy seeking additional funding for this.