A new sensory garden at Serendip Sanctuary is beginning to take shape, with draft designs developed for the new all-abilities space on Wadawurrung Country in Melbourne’s outer west.
The draft designs for the sensory garden propose five spaces, each with a focus on one of the five senses. From brightly coloured flora in the ’See’ space, to vegetation with various textures in the ’Feel’ space and edible bush foods in the ’Taste’ space, the new garden will provide a place for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to connect with nature. The garden is also set to feature accessible pathways and resting spots for visitors to easily explore, relax and take in the serenity of the garden.
Parks Victoria District Manager, David Petty, said the new garden would “provide more ways for people with diverse abilities to connect to nature”.
Sensory gardens are specifically designed to stimulate sight, smell, sound, touch and taste. Through their location, plantings and design, these places can provide visitors with a deeper immersion in nature. Sensory gardens can also be calming, peaceful environments where quiet thoughts emerge and memories return.
The garden is being created with $11 million in funding from the Victorian Government, which will deliver a range of upgrades to help revitalise the environmental, cultural and recreational precinct. An additional $45,000 sponsorship from CDC Victoria, CMV Truck & Bus and Volvo Bus Australia has also enabled the designs to be brought to life.
To find out more about the Serendip Sanctuary upgrades visit www.parks.vic.gov.au/projects.