Tudor Grange Academy students design sensory garden for Belmont Care Home, enhancing residents well being connecting young and old.
It connected young and old while helping the environment. The project also boosted physical activity. This improved both physical and emotional health.
Jen Sommerville guided the students. They designed a sensory garden for the care home. It serves John Comyn Drive’s residents. The garden shows sustainable landscaping too. Rowlands Trust funded an accessible path. This lets every resident enjoy the garden. Sanders Senior Living runs the care home.
Ms. Sommerville said her students loved it. They made something special for the Belmont residents. Students considered accessibility and used sustainable materials as they designed.
The garden uses recycled materials creatively. Sensory elements were made from them. Wheelchair paths are included, and plants were chosen to awaken senses all year. Residents can safely walk short distances now. They experience nature by touching, seeing, and smelling.
Mark Owen works at Belmont. He said the garden makes a safe space where residents spend time with loved ones, and can do physical activities. Belmont wants community links. This way everyone can benefit.
Ian Smith and Rebecca Widdowson are Rowlands Trust trustees. They said this project is very rewarding. The students worked hard, helping residents and their families. The smiles they saw were magical.
The foundation will train students as community mile champions, and also train community volunteers. They will support the project as students lead activity sessions. Garden walks and chair exercises are possibilities, strengthening bonds between generations.
Anna Skeats leads the Mason Foundation. She said students have worked since May 2024. This is just the start. The garden and partnership can do a lot of good.
Students work on social projects, connecting with older people, and learning skills for the future. The foundation is happy to celebrate and recognize both the students’ achievements and also thank all the partners involved. They thanked funders and partners especially, because they helped turn the idea into reality.