News

Richmond Villages Wood Norton recently celebrated the official opening of its brand-new dementia garden for residents living with dementia.

The celebrations included an official ribbon cutting with special guest, Sally Williams from Age UK, and home-baked refreshments for all those who came to visit for the exciting unveiling.

The garden has been transformed into a dementia-friendly space with new flooring. Staff have also sourced sensory equipment, painted fences in resident-approved colours, added bamboo textures, and installed sensory items.

The Village Manager led the initial decorating and ordered ornaments, while the activities and maintenance teams handled planting, raised planters, and final touches to create a stimulating and accessible outdoor environment.

The new garden is designed to be a beautiful and calming space aimed at stimulating the senses and providing a peaceful retreat for Wood Nortons’ residents living with dementia. It will provide residents with a safe, and accessible outdoor space that promotes independence and sensory engagement.

The raised planters with herbs like rosemary and sage, a calming water feature, wind chimes, and areas that respond to light and weather, stimulate all five senses – sight, smell, sound, touch, and taste. It includes designated seating for socialising with fellow residents, family, or staff, and supports outdoor activities led by the care team, offering a peaceful and enriching environment for all.

Village manager at Richmond Villages Wood Norton, James Culley, commented: “We are very thankful to everyone who has helped bring this special project to life. The new garden is designed for our residents living with dementia, but open to all our residents who want to enjoy the space for reading and other activities, or simply relaxing.

“We are committed to providing beautiful spaces for all our residents to enjoy while offering new experiences throughout our residents’ time here at the village.”