Create a sensory garden as a tribute to the life of Prince Philip
HRH Duke of Edinburgh was well known for his love of gardening. His work on the design and landscaping of the royal gardens will be a living legacy to the prince for years to come. These spaces will no doubt be of great solace to Prince Philip’s loved ones as a spot of quiet reflection and remembrance.
For those with sensory loss, a sensory garden can have enormous therapeutic value. Prince Philip was known to have hearing loss himself and, of course, was a keen gardener. We felt that it would be a fitting tribute to HRH if our supporters would cultivate their own sensory garden in memory of him or in memory to a loved one.
Benefits of a sensory garden
A sensory garden is a garden that’s been designed with the senses in mind and should aim to enrich them all. It should appeal to:
- sight
- sound
- smell
- touch, and
- taste.
Any garden can promote feelings of calm and restoration and can be hugely beneficial to your health. However, a garden that stirs the senses can be a real benefit for those with sensory loss.
If you struggle because of your hearing loss, and experience psychological and emotional effects, a sensory garden could really help. Being in a green space has been found in many research studies to help reduce the stress hormone cortisol. Being around pleasing textures, smells, sights and sounds can all help reduce stress associated with hearing loss.
If you suffer with tinnitus, you will no doubt be aware that there is currently no cure. However, many GPs recommend relaxation exercises and mindful practice to help you manage your symptoms. Having a calming restful sensory garden would be an excellent space to practice these therapies and help alleviate some of your symptoms. Focusing on the sound of a wind chime or leaves rustling in the breeze can really help focus the mind and help you to mindfully relax.
What to include in a sensory garden
Consider the five senses when creating your sensory garden, choose colours that you love to see, sounds that promote calm, smells that relax, textures that interest and you could even planting some fruit or herbs for taste. There are so many things you could include in your garden, and lots of resources available to help you, here are a few articles that could help:
- Kew Gardens: How to create a sensory garden
- Sensory Trust: How to plan a sensory garden
Host your own in memory garden event
Once you have created your sensory garden why not share that space with friends and family and host your own garden party in aid of RNID? For help and guidance on arranging your own garden party get in touch with the Community Fundraising team community.fundraising@developer.rnid.org.uk.