Garden Therapy: Creating Sensory Spaces for Mental Well-Being in UK Gardens

More people are aware of the importance of good mental health, and many are searching for ways to improve their own. Gardening and mental health can go hand in hand since it has many benefits that extend beyond the physical. According to research from the Royal Horticultural Society, those who garden every day reported wellbeing scores that were 6.6% higher and stress levels that were 4.2% lower than non-gardeners. You can take things even further by creating a sensory garden. The United Kingdom has its share of rainy days, but making a sanctuary that soothes the senses can brighten things up.

What Is a Sensory Garden?

Sensory gardens are a great way to cheer yourself up and create a space to go to when the hustle of daily life gets you down. These spaces inspire relaxation and mindfulness, reducing stress and improving your mental well-being. 

The key to creating a successful sensory garden lies in thoughtful planning that considers how each element will stimulate different sensory responses throughout the changing seasons of the British climate.

Things to Consider Before Making a Sensory Garden

One question you’ll want to ask yourself when creating a garden for mental health is who you are making it for. This will determine the items you include.

These gardens serve diverse needs — from providing calming environments for those with dementia (helping trigger positive memories through familiar scents and textures) to creating safe exploratory spaces for children with autism spectrum disorders. They’re equally valuable for anyone seeking respite from daily stresses or managing conditions like anxiety or depression.

Another thing you’ll want to think about is whether your sensory garden should be stimulating or relaxing. For example, if you want an invigorating environment, consider adding running water like a fountain. If you want a more calming atmosphere, a pond might be a better option.

Benefits of a Sensory Garden

Research increasingly supports what gardeners have long known instinctively — that connecting with nature improves mental wellbeing. A 2025 study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry found that social and therapeutic horticulture interventions showed large and significant effects in reducing depression symptoms and moderate significant effects in reducing anxiety. 

Beyond individual benefits, sensory gardens create valuable community spaces. When installed in public areas, they promote social interaction and inclusivity while serving as educational environments. Several NHS mental health facilities across the UK now incorporate therapeutic gardens into their treatment approaches.

Benefits extend to physical health too — the varied movements involved in gardening improve flexibility and strength, while exposure to beneficial soil microbes may boost immune function.

How to Make a Sensory Garden

There are many options when creating a sensory garden. The design, plants and embellishments are all important in creating a space that works for you. Consider these sensory garden ideas for adults when developing your calming area. 

Design

When choosing a spot for your garden, consider the sunlight. It is important to select an area with maximum sunlight if you’re planning on growing plants that need it. 

It is also important to make sure the garden is accessible. Providing walkable paths and benches will make the space more friendly. If it will be used by children, create areas for interaction with the plants and sights.

Creating effective sensory gardens requires thoughtful layout planning:

• Circular or figure-eight pathways encourage natural exploration and provide a sense of journey
• Raised beds at various heights make plants accessible to everyone, including wheelchair users and those who struggle with bending
• Secluded seating areas offer quiet reflection spots throughout the garden
• Weather-protected spaces ensure your garden remains usable during typical British rainy days
• Transitional zones that gradually introduce new sensory experiences rather than overwhelming visitors

If renovating an existing garden space, consider how you can create distinct zones within your sensory landscape, providing both shelter and visual interest.

Plants

A truly effective sensory garden deliberately incorporates plants that stimulate each sense throughout the growing season. Here’s how to approach each sensory dimension with UK-suitable choices:

1) Sight

Visual stimulation comes from varied colours, forms and movements:

• Seasonal colour progression: Snowdrops and crocuses (winter), tulips and daffodils (spring), lavender and roses (summer) and Japanese maples (autumn).
• Contrasting textures: Pair feathery grasses like Stipa tenuissima with bold-leaved Hostas.
• Movement: Incorporate tall grasses like Miscanthus sinensis that sway in British breezes.
• Light play: Silver-leaved plants like Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ capture and reflect changing light.

2) Smell

Scent is perhaps the most evocative sense for triggering emotions and memories. Consider these factors in your planning and design:

• Location matters: Place fragrant plants near seating areas and pathways where their scents will be appreciated.
• Layer scents throughout seasons: Winter-flowering Sarcococca (Christmas box), spring lilacs, summer roses and autumn Clerodendrum trichotomum.
• Aromatic foliage: Herbs like rosemary, thyme and mint release scent when touched.
• Evening fragrance: Night-scented stocks and Nicotiana sylvestris for evening garden enjoyment.

3) Taste

Edible elements add another dimension of engagement:

• Herbs: Mint varieties, fennel and lemon balm offer distinctive flavours.
• Fruit: Easy-to-grow strawberries, raspberries and blackberries are always popular.
• Edible flowers: Nasturtiums, borage and calendula add colour and flavour to salads.
• Year-round harvesting: Plan for continuous seasonal harvesting with winter kale, spring rhubarb and summer berries.

4) Touch

Tactile elements invite physical interaction:

• Textural contrasts: Juxtapose soft lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina) with rough tree bark
• Grass varieties: Feather-reed grass (Calamagrostis) for soft movement
• Bark diversity: The peeling cinnamon bark of Acer griseum invites touching
• Temperature variations: Stone elements that warm in the sun beside cool-feeling ferns

5) Sound

The acoustic environment significantly impacts the garden experience:

• Plant choices: Bamboo creates gentle rustling, while the papery seedheads of honesty (Lunaria annua) make subtle sounds when dry.
• Water features: Consider different water movements for varied sounds — from gentle drips to flowing streams.
• Wildlife attractions: Bird-friendly plants like teasels and sunflowers bring natural songs and sounds.
• Wind chimes: Carefully positioned bamboo or metal chimes can add gentle musical notes.

Embellishments

Thoughtful additions enhance sensory engagement beyond plants. Consider these embellishments for your garden:

• Water features: From simple solar-powered bubblers to more elaborate pond systems that attract wildlife.
• Natural materials: Incorporate locally-sourced stone, sustainable wood and natural fibres.
• Lighting: Solar garden lights extend garden enjoyment into evening, with options ranging from subtle path lighting to feature spotlights on interesting plants or structures.
• Wildlife encouragement: Bird feeders, insect hotels and bee-friendly plantings add movement and sound.
• Weather instruments: Rain gauges, wind socks and outdoor thermometers add interactive elements that connect visitors to natural cycles.
• Textural groundcovers: Consider alternatives to traditional paving — from smooth pebbles to bark paths that change sensation underfoot

Once you’ve chosen the design and plants, you can begin picking out helpful additions to make your sensory garden that much more special. Focus on implementing things that you or the people you’re making the garden for will like to enhance the overall feel and atmosphere of your sensory garden.

Maintaining the Garden

It is also important to maintain your sensory garden, and the steps are very similar to those for regular ones. Watering plants, cutting off dead leaves and regenerating dry soil are all ways to maintain your plot. Proper upkeep is essential for a sensory garden to be effective in relaxing the mind, as a rundown space cannot be a calming oasis. 

Consider creating a seasonal maintenance calendar specifically for your sensory garden. Unlike purely ornamental gardens, sensory spaces require attention to how maintenance activities might affect the sensory experience. For example, scheduling pruning of fragrant plants outside of their peak blooming periods, or ensuring water features remain clean and functional during stressful times when the garden is most needed.

Make the Most of Mental Health Gardens

Sensory gardens provide numerous mental health benefits by calming and relaxing the brain. Picking the right design, plants and additions can make it a great place to unwind. Be sure to take the time to enjoy your oasis every day, especially whenever you’re feeling overly stressed or anxious. It can be just the thing to improve your outlook.