Sensory Garden

In 2022 the Wilberforce Trust opened Wilberforce House, a beautiful complex of 30 purpose-built apartments for people with Sensory Impairment including those with other disabilities. There is also a community area hosting the Yorsensory Hub, Café and the Bradbury Living and Learning Zone activities, area for the public to enjoy.

Wilberforce House is built in a magnificent green space and in 2023 launched a Sensory Garden appeal to raise £30,000 + to realise the dream of a garden or not only people living and visiting Wilberforce House but for the whole community to come along and enjoy.

Why did we have this ambition?

It is known that Sensory Gardens enhance the wellbeing for people with disabilities, and green space is essential for all of us. For the people we support the gardens will be a fundamental part of their lives. Resin pathways for people unable to walk and wheelchair users, for others to wander the winding pathways and explore. A quiet place for calm with the enjoyment of smells and touch of the velvet leaves and the smell of herbs, lavender, and scents to stimulate well-being and enjoyment of safe open space.

Access to outdoors and spending time in nature for everyone is a key part of the support and care we give to our children, young people, and adults. To have areas where to get involved in planting and growing, feeling and smelling the plants and vegetables, gives people the feeling of achievement.

What are the garden’s benefits?

We are all aware of the therapeutic benefits known to all of us and the sense of achievement that can be gained from gardening. An effective sensory garden has an intentional blend of natural and landscaped features, with differing heights and scents to stimulate smell and size.

Having a sensory loss can cause anxiety and can be triggered by unexpected noise, a disruption in routine, inaccessibility to places and many other things. A sensory garden is somewhere we can help alleviate that feeling of stress and stimulate our senses in a calm way.

In July 2024 we were delighted to open our much longed for garden, the finishing touch to our beautiful home. The ribbon was cut by a friend and generous supporter to the trust, Ann Robertson, and attended by a small group of trustees, supporters and tenants.

The garden, along with our community café, is open to the public and we welcome you to come and explore it for yourself.