The idea
Everyone loves a garden. For disabled/older people, those living with dementia, and their carers, having access to an enjoyable outdoor space can meet many needs. However, access to such places, that also are a safe environment, is difficult. Gardens that are safe and that allow people with a disability to interact with the community are rarer still.
Tapestry intends to create a dementia friendly, sensory, memory garden that EVERYONE can enjoy.
The Garden, which will be open and accessible to the whole community, will be at Tapestry’s Community Hub.
The garden will be stunning mix of colour, sounds and smells designed to stimulate the senses and will be built in a series of styles that will stimulate memory through reminiscence.
The garden will also aim to tackle loneliness by providing a place to meet/volunteer/work so people of all ages can interact and form friendship groups. The garden will also be linked to the onsite restaurant so people can eat, the food they grow, together.
What we'll deliver
- We will provide exercise equipment that can be used by all within the garden
- We will create a dementia friendly 'pub pod' in a building, within the Garden site, where people can socialise.
- We will create a 'Mens Shed' where individuals can build, create and meet together to enjoy mutual hobbies.
- We will organise events within the garden that will bring the whole community together
- We will provide opportunities for people to volunteer
Why it's a great idea
The garden will be more than just a beautiful garden it will be a garden created and planned for enjoyment by all. It will have features that will make it especially appealing to older adults and those living with dementia. It will contain areas with objects, scents and areas that trigger good memories, for example, mint, roses, grass, it will include seating areas where people relax and activity areas where individuals can interact with objects and audio visual experiences within the garden.
Many older people, and those living with dementia/disability, have built up a lot of knowledge and experience about gardening. The garden is designed to allow them to contribute to the garden maintenance, in varying ways, from active involvement in digging and planting to smelling their favourite flowers, or growing/picking herbs or vegetables and discussing what Tapestry’s chefs could cook with them for tomorrows lunch. These activities will be supported by volunteers from the whole community.
Steps to get it done
- October - December 2018 final planning involving local community groups
- December 1st -31st 2018 Crowdfunding launched and completed
- January 2019 final plans completed and agreed.
- January 2019 'Pub pod' and 'Mens Shed' fitted out
- February 2019 groundworks undertaken and completed.
- March 2019 landscaping completed and planting begins
- March 2019 outside gym equipment installed
- April 2019 Planting completed
- May 2019 Garden is launched and opened to the communtiy
- January -April 2019 Recruitment of staff, apprentices and volunteers undertaken
- January - April 2019 Training of staff and volunteers completed
- January - April 2019 Community groups defined and established
Importantly the garden, as well as the restaurant facilities that it will link to, will be available to the community as a whole, so that older people, those living with dementia/disability and the carers will have an opportunity to interact with the whole community.
Events and activities, built around the growing, cooking and eating of food, grown in the garden, will be organised to encourage and increase this integration as this will be a key role of the garden.
We will run a marketing campaign to ensure that all sections of the Havering community are aware of the garden and are encouraged to use it.
