With ‘#sensorygarden’ 499.1k views on TikTok – locals with urban homes can create their own sensory gardens on balconies and window ledges

Wildlife expert Sean McMenemy shares how sensory gardens can do wonders for our wellness whilst providing a safe haven for wildlife, and encourages London locals to create their own or visit their local sensory garden this autumn.

A sensory garden is an outdoor space that stimulates the five senses of sight, smell, touch, hearing and taste but over 20% of London properties don’t have access to a garden. Whilst sensory gardens at home remain relatively rare, the TikTok hashtag ‘#sensorygarden’ has 499.1k views*. This emerging trend can be recreated on balconies and window ledges for those living in urban cities.

Those with balconies and window ledges can still plant colourful, sweet-smelling flowers and edible plants. Indoor water fountains can provide a relaxing sound element whilst window bird feeders will attract wildlife. This mini sensory garden can still provide the benefits and satisfaction of an outdoor garden.

Wildlife expert and founder of bird food provider Ark Wildlife, Sean McMenemy, explains the benefits of sensory gardening:

“Sensory gardens provide a great deal of physical and mental benefits for different people and purposes. From getting vitamin D from sunlight to improving physical fitness by maintaining a garden, there are several physical benefits. Mentally, you can benefit from a mood boost and relaxation by spending time surrounded by calming stimulation.

“Sensory gardens can also have huge benefits for children, older people, those with learning disabilities and those who struggle with their physical and mental health. You can also create a sensory garden for your pets and garden wildlife!”

Top tips for creating your own sensory garden
If you do have the space, creating your own sensory garden is therapeutic in itself and doesn’t need to be a complicated process. The most important thing is to ensure that the garden engages all five senses.

Melody Estes, landscape design gardening supervisor, says: “Whether you’re new to gardening or a seasoned pro, you can always improve your garden by adding some sensory elements.”

Here are some tips from Melody for creating a sensory garden:

Sight – Plant colourful flowers that change with the seasons.

Sound – If you have a fountain or water feature on your property, consider adding some relaxing music to play alongside it. You could also place chimes near your front door to welcome people in.

Smell – Use scent. Consider planting scented flowers or herbs like lavender, rosemary and thyme that will give off a lovely aroma when they bloom.

Touch – Mix textures. The texture of plants can be as important as their colour and shape. Try using plants with soft leaves like ferns or grasses that are texturally different.

Taste – Planting herbs, fruits and vegetables not only provide tasty treats, but is a sustainable source of food.

Sean McMenemy adds:

“Sensory gardens are an easy way to engage with wildlife and the outdoor environment. Growing your own plants and vegetables provides countless ways to learn about the natural world.

“You can bring your sensory garden to life by using bird feeders to attract beautiful feathered friends into your garden. They’ll bring the sound element to your sensory garden naturally. Fragrant flowers will attract colourful butterflies and other pollinators to your garden, giving you something to observe whilst helping nature to thrive.”

Where in London can you find a sensory garden?
For those looking to visit a sensory garden, Kew Gardens is London’s most famous botanical garden, featuring over 50,000 plants and attracting over 2.2 million visitors each year. Kew Gardens is the most biodiverse place on earth and a must-visit for the unforgettable sensory experience. Explore Temperate House, the largest Victorian glasshouse in the world, which has the fluffy tree pincushion and the woody fruity scent of the Cayman sage.

Scientists from Kew Gardens have recently discovered the mystery behind the world’s oldest plant genome, making the garden an exciting place of constant discovery. For those planning a visit, Kew Gardens has several facilities for visitors with disabilities. Open 10am – 7pm every day of the week.