The Healing Power of Gardens

From my earliest days designing landscapes, I've been fascinated by the profound effect that gardens have on wellbeing. The walled garden at KYN Hurlingham represents the culmination of this lifelong passion – a thoughtfully designed space where residents can experience the therapeutic benefits of nature in all its sensory richness. Throughout my career creating gardens for some of the world's most elegant estates and private homes, I've observed how the right outdoor environment can transform not just spaces, but lives. When KYN approached me to design their gardens, I was particularly moved by their commitment to creating environments that nurture the whole person - physically, emotionally, and cognitively.

Why Do Gardens Have Such a Profound Effect on Our Wellbeing?

The healing power of gardens isn't merely anecdotal – it's supported by scientific research. Studies consistently show that spending time in garden environments can reduce blood pressure, lower stress hormones, improve mood, and even enhance cognitive function. For older adults, including those living with dementia, these benefits can be particularly significant. At KYN Hurlingham, the walled garden provides a safe, accessible space where residents can reconnect with nature's rhythms. The simple act of feeling sunshine on one's face, hearing birds sing, or touching the velvety leaf of a plant can trigger powerful physiological responses that promote healing and well-being.

How Do Sensory Elements Transform a Garden into a Healing Space?

A truly therapeutic garden engages all five senses. Each plant in the KYN Hurlingham garden has been selected not just for its beauty, but for its sensory qualities:

Sight

• The Acer campestre tree displays a visual transformation throughout the seasons, establishing a sense of routine and familiarity that can evoke memories and provide temporal orientation.
• Nandina domestica offers another visual feast as its leaves transform from green in summer to red and orange in autumn and winter.
• Gaura lindheimeri 'The Bride' produces giant butterfly-like flowers on long wiry stems, creating an appearance that's both visually striking and accessible to touch without requiring residents to bend down.
• Calamagrostis brachytricha creates a sense of gentle movement with its long feathery flower heads, offering a calming visual experience as it sways in the breeze.
• Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus' provides flowers that create stunning contrast against darker green leaves, while attracting pollinators that add life to the garden.
• Thalictrum delavayi offers lavender-purple flowers with a cloud-like appearance, complemented by fern-like foliage that flows gently in the wind.

Scent

• Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote' perfumes the air with its strong floral fragrance, which has calming properties that help reduce anxiety and promote better sleep.
• Nearby, Sarcococca confusa offers sweet vanilla-like scents during winter months, ensuring the garden remains a sensory delight year-round.
• Perhaps most remarkable is Nepeta racemosa, whose minty aroma becomes especially potent when leaves are gently crushed. This refreshing smell is known for its calming effect, helping to reduce stress and anxiety for those who encounter it.
• Lonicera fragrantissima provides intensely sweet, lemony fragrance in late winter and early spring – an uplifting scent that can promote relaxation.
• Perovskia ‘'Blue Spire' offers silvery-green leaves with a strong herbal, slightly spicy scent when brushed against.
• Trachelospermum jasminoides release a sweet, strong fragrance known to create a calming atmosphere.
• Salvia x silver 'Mainacht' releases an aromatic herbal scent when brushed against or when its leaves are crushed.

Touch

• Stachys byzantina 'Silver Carpet' features soft, woolly leaves that provide a soothing sensory experience. This can be particularly beneficial for residents living with dementia, offering sensory engagement that doesn't rely on memory or cognition.
• Dryopteris affinis, with its smooth and soft fronds, creates another pleasant sensory experience.
• The soft, feathery flower plumes of Pennisetum setaceum invite gentle touch and interaction.
• Cornus kousa chinensis offers visually appealing exfoliating bark that engages fine motor skills when residents touch the thin layers .
• Philadelphus manteau d'Hermine provides soft, slightly textured flower petals that are pleasant to touch.
• Pittosporum tobira features dark green glossy leaves with a satisfying leathery texture.

Sound

• Ilex aquifolium' helps absorb noise pollution and blocks unpleasant winds, creating a peaceful environment.
• Many plants in the garden also attract pollinators.The nectar-rich flowers of Rosa 'Gentle Hermione' draw bees and butterflies, whose buzzing creates a deeply relaxing backdrop.
• Pyracantha 'Orange Glow' attracts birds with its striking orange berries, bringing melodies to the garden throughout autumn and winter.
• Viburnum opulus features large white flower clusters that attract bees and pollinators, creating a lively garden scene.
• Salvia x silver 'Mainacht' releases an aromatic herbal scent when brushed against, while also attracting pollinators that contribute to the garden's symphony.

What Role Does Playfulness Play in Garden Design?

Playfulness in garden design is fundamental to creating spaces that engage and delight. At KYN Hurlingham, the garden's materiality (from stone paths to richly textured plants) provides varied sensory experiences that change with the weather and seasons. Colour has been carefully considered too, with vibrant accents drawing the eye and stimulating visual interest without overwhelming the senses. At KYN Bickley, the sensory experience and layout of the garden are also central to the design philosophy, prioritising safety, ease of navigation, and comfort. Clear pathways, varied routes, and ample seating ensure residents can freely explore and engage with their surroundings. The selection of plants and features aims to evoke sensory experiences that stimulate memory, reduce anxiety, and foster a tranquil ambience.

How Can You Create Your Own Sensory Garden?

If you're interested in creating a sensory garden of your own, I'm delighted to be hosting an event with journalist Carole Annett at KYN Hurlingham on Wednesday 30 April, from 6:00 to 8:30pm. Together, we'll explore everything you should consider when creating a sensory garden, whether for a care setting or your own home. You'll take away practical tips on therapeutic gardening and learn how to prepare your garden in the months ahead to maximise its sensory potential. The walled garden at KYN Hurlingham stands as a testament to the healing power of thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces. By engaging all the senses through carefully selected plants and materials, we've created an environment that supports holistic wellbeing – a place where residents and their loved ones can find joy, peace, and connection with the natural world. For our mothers, for our fathers, for our KYN.