Press Release issued: 1 June 2012.
A special 'sensory garden' for blind and partially sighted people, designed to stimulate all of the senses, will be opened in Glasgow today by George Bowie, host of Radio Clyde's breakfast show.
Plants include roses without thorns, so no one pricks their fingers, and a type of bamboo shoot that produces a highly audible sound when the wind blows through it.
The garden forms part of a purpose-built facility run by the Royal National Institute of Blind People Scotland for adults with sight loss and learning disabilities or other complex needs. Six out of ten people with a learning disability will experience visual impairment, but often this goes undetected because they can't communicate the problem.
Karen Leonard, day support and assessment co-ordinator, said: "Over the years our garden was being used less and less and needed to be updated and refurbished. A proper sensory garden was needed with a design which made the outdoor area accessible and appealing to the service-users, one that engages the senses of hearing, touch and smell as well as vision."
Many different types of plants are included that offer clues in terms of touch, texture, smell, shape and sound. Sight will be stimulated by the vivid range of colours of the plants and flowers like a Butterfly Bush, as well as the contrasting and different textured paving stones and walls, which will help to differentiate parts of the garden. Audio clues include noise from a water feature, plants which rustle in the wind, and the sounds of the different birds and insects they attract.
Smell will be stimulated by the variety of scents and perfumes from the flowers. Touch by the textures and shapes of the plants, the tactile feel of the alternate walkway surfaces, and the braille/tactile signage.
"It's been a very exciting and imaginative project," enthused Karen about the project that began in February and finished in April. "And we're delighted with the results."
The funding for the design and conversion came from donations and charitable trusts as well as the efforts of staff who took part in fun-runs and car-boot sales and organised ceilidhs and raffles.
Two van-loads of plants were donated by Dobbies Garden centre, while staff from Scottish Water volunteered for two days painting fences and odd-jobs.
"Parents and carers of many people who attended our services over the years, and who have sadly passed away, have also made donations in memory of their loved ones," said Karen. "We had some requests to make a small area of the garden a memorial area and we have included that in our design plan.
"We're hoping that our service-users will help to maintain the garden with tasks such as weeding and tidying the raised flower-beds. They could also be encouraged to 'own' a plant and care for it personally. The centre also does life-skills training such as cooking so there would be a chance to grow some fruit and vegetables from seed in the greenhouse to be cooked in the kitchen.
"But this is just the first phase completed. Now we have to maintain and develop the sensory garden if we can raise funding to do this."
The award-winning RNIB Scotland facility has pioneered specialist day-care services for adults in the west of Scotland with learning disabilities and sight problems. The prevalence of sight problems increases dramatically with the severity of the learning disability and with age. Loss of vision can significantly affect a person's ability to manage their daily living, reduces their confidence and increases vulnerability.
Service-user Caroline Riddell said: "I love the new garden, particularly the water feature and all the scented plants. I look forward to spending some time in the greenhouse where I can grow my favourite, Lilly of the Valley, relax on the new seating and dream of the possibility of adding a paddling pool to the garden. Thank you RNIB for providing such a nice place for me to enjoy."