Care Home Appeal to Create Seaside Sensory Garden

An Ely care home is appealing to members of the public to help complete a seaside-themed sensory garden with donations of shells, lobster pots, buoys – and even has its fingers crossed for a boat or two!

Lily House, which specialises in dementia care, is building the garden to help bring the beach to its residents, many of whom aren’t mobile enough to visit the coast and enjoy the sea air.

It’s hoped that, once completed, the garden will help bring back fond memories of childhood holidays at the seaside, or visits with their own children and grandchildren.

Sensory gardens are key features in dementia-friendly care and offer a safe, independent, and easy access to the outdoors. They stimulate and engage senses to help people with dementia to relax and recall distant memories and sensations.

Joanne Swift, activities coordinator at the home, said:
“The idea behind the sensory garden is to bring the seaside to our residents.

“The garden is really starting to come together but we’re on the look out for some items to help complete it and give it those finishing touches. Things that we can’t really buy like used lobster pots, buoy floats, sea glass and anchors will make a huge difference.

“One thing we’re really keen on is getting our hands on a boat, which we’d like to use as a planter. It doesn’t need to be seaworthy, as we plan to fill it with soil and plant lots of strongly scented flowers, which are great for sensory gardens.”

Lily House is appealing to members of the public to donate any items related to the seaside, including but not limited to: sea glass, sand, lobster pots, buoys, signs, anchors, boats, rope, shells and outdoor paint for beach huts.