Thatcham Town Council unveils dementia friendly sensory garden

Thatcham Town Council has opened a dementia friendly sensory garden outside its offices on Brownsfield Road.

The space itself fits multiple sensory components from flowers of multiple colours and scents and fruits and vegetables to places to sit for a quiet escape, a path to wander down and even a bug garden.

The garden, dubbed the Jubilee Sensory Garden, was due to open in September but was pushed back after the death of the Queen.

The ribbon was later cut on October 5 by mayor of Thatcham Jeff Brooks, alongside mayoress Mandy Cole and deputy mayor and deputy mayoress Mr and Mrs Lillycrop.

Mr Brooks said: “It is a splendid, delightful place to go.

“You can sit down for a little while or have a walk around and enjoy a different experience.

“Now it is all about getting the word out. We need people to be aware that it is there.”

Mr Brooks, whose time as mayor has coincided with the Platinum Jubilee, death of the Queen and will coincide with the coronation of King Charles, said: “After the ribbon cutting, we had cake.

“The Jubilee is a time for celebration and it was meant to be the entire year. The sensory garden is also for people with dementia or learning disabilities.

“Care homes may think about bringing people here. We need to get the word out.”

Mr Brooks commented on the “quite lovely” bug house, which houses insects and creepy crawlies for people to watch.

Funds from the former 5th Thatcham Brownies went towards a nut bush for the garden, with former Brown Owl of the 5th Thatcham Brownies Denise Newport cutting its ribbon with Mr Brooks.

The garden itself was put together by Thatcham Town Council, headed by the Dementia Friendly Committee consisting of councillors Lordes Cottom (Lib Dem, Thatcham North East), Christine Rice (Lib Dem, Thatcham North East) and Owen Jeffery (Lib Dem, Thatcham Central).

Mr Jeffery said: “The community have got a resource of real value. There is a car park there where somebody can be driven from anywhere.

“They can walk in, sit there for half an hour and walk around.”

The councillor, who led the project through the highs and lows of the pandemic period, added: “This is a great thing to do and I am glad that the town council stuck with it.

“It will be something that is really valued for years to come.”

Also in attendance was chairman of West Berkshire Council Rick Jones.