Garden of wonders at Cedar Falls Care Home

A new sensory garden for residents at Cedar Falls Care Home in Spalding has been officially opened by MP, John Hayes.

The purpose-built garden is specially designed to support people with dementia at the care home owned by Tanglewood.

It features pergola walkways, flower planting and vegetable growing areas, gazebo space and feeding tables for birds.

Tracy Ann Shelbourn, founder and director of Tanglewood Care Homes, said: "The Cedar Falls Community Garden Project is one of our most ambitious outdoor projects to date and it will be open for all Cedar Falls residents to enjoy, as well as visitors from the surrounding communities.

“All too often people living in residential care settings do not have access to safe environments where they can spend time independently outdoors, particularly people living with dementia.

“I would like to thank everyone who has helped bring this project to completion, especially the staff here at Cedar Falls, the residents and their families, as well as all the designers and contractors who have worked with us.

“The garden looks absolutely beautiful in the sunshine and we look forward to welcoming families across Lincolnshire who have been touched by dementia in some way to come and enjoy this new space.”

Mr Hayes said: "It is wonderful to see the culmination of an idea that came out of a dementia forum that I chaired here before.

Mr Hayes said: "It is wonderful to see the culmination of an idea that came out of a dementia forum that I chaired here before.

"We thought about how the lives of people with dementia could be improved and we came up with the idea of a sensory garden.

“The five senses – sight, smell, sound, taste and touch – are all things that enliven and enhance people’s lives, and whether you have dementia or not, a garden lights up your life.

"This garden is such a joy and I hope we can spread that joy to thousands of people in the years to come.”