Discover your senses at Renfrewshire’s newest garden

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The launch of the sensory garden followed a local survey by the Council last year to find out what people wanted from the park. The outcome of the survey resulted in this £110,000 sensory garden being designed and constructed.

The new garden, which has been laid out in such a way to allow easy access from four different entrances, has been created to appeal to all the senses through the use of colours, textures, smell, taste and sound. Due to the garden’s close proximity to West Primary School, St Mary’s Primary School and Hugh Smiley Nursery, a special area which can be used for learning and relaxing has also been created in the garden.
Councillor Iain McMillan was delighted to officially open the garden. He said: “This is a great example of how local residents can get involved and decide what they want in their parks. This special garden has something for everyone, from the very young to the elderly. The fact that the garden has been designed to focus on the senses makes this garden exciting and engaging for all visitors. I am delighted with the results of the design and am sure that this will be a well visited attraction of Maxwellton Park.”

The soft landscaping has been designed taking into consideration plants which are appropriate to the five senses and consists of the following:

• mixed shrub plantings - these are the beds around the outside of the garden and consist of various varieties of shrubs and trees which will provide some form of interest throughout the whole year - whether it be from colour and scent from flowers and foliage, sound from the leaves rustling, texture of the leaves or possibly the shape of the plant. The beds have been mulched with bark which makes them more aesthetically pleasing and also provides a different texture for touch.
• grass beds containing various varieties of grass to produce colour and sound while the wind blows through them. These have been surrounded with gravel to provide a different texture and add more interest.
• heather and rhododendron beds provide different colours by foliage and flower all year round. These beds have also been mulched with bark.
• raised log planters - these beds have been constructed to allow those in wheelchairs to have easy access so they can touch, taste and smell the plants, most of which are herbs.
• annual bed - this bed will be planted seasonally with bedding to provide colour and scent.

The sensory garden is open to visitors between 8am and 8pm, seven days a week all year round with the exception of Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Press release 30 June 2006