Care home transforms garden to improve residents’ mental well-being

The garden of a Bromley care home has been transformed from an overgrown and unloved area into an immersive and useable space that includes a sensory zone, raised-beds and scented plants and herbs.

The transformation was completed by the Bromley-based volunteer gardening and horticulture project, Branching Out, and the space has also been created with wheelchair users in mind.

The home, in Widmore Road, is run by national charity Ambient Support, which aims to change lives and improve mental well-being for local people with experience of mental ill-health.

It provides short breaks and respite services for adults with learning disabilities and complex needs in the Bromley area.

The Branching Out team was asked to make significant improvements to enhance peoples’ experience in the garden and designed and built two raised beds of varying heights for the growing area, accessible for all including wheelchair users, and a sensory zone in an unused corner of the garden.

It has been planted with rosemary, thyme, sage, chives, lemon balm, nepeta, mint, angelica, cotton lavender, woodland strawberry and lemon verbena.

A sensory wall made from mirror and touch tiles was installed with the large tiles positioned on hooks so they can be removed for wheelchair users.

Sara Barton, manager at Widmore Road, said: “We are completely overjoyed with the new garden. It’s unrecognisable and is now an inspirational and immersive space that the people we support love being in.

“We can plan lots of enjoyable activities in the garden and give the people the chance to discover the joy of gardening alongside new sound, touch, smell and taste experiences.

“The garden couldn’t be more perfect and we would like to say a huge big thank you to everyone in the Branching Out team.” 

People interested in gardening maintenance services can call the team for a competitive quote on 020 8313 9725.

Pictured top: The new garden