Mentally Handicapped School Sensory Garden

Project

Mentally Handicapped School Sensory Garden

Services used

Garden Design

Duration

10 weeks

Location

Hampshire

Sensory Garden for Hampshire School

Atlantes Landscapes was commissioned to create a sensory garden for the pupils of Rachel Maddocks School in Hampshire – transforming an area of the school grounds that had previously been unusable into a vibrant, inclusive, and engaging outdoor space.

Designed by Paul Bentley MBALI MSGD, the garden stimulates all the senses – sight, sound, touch, and smell – while offering safe and accessible features for children of all abilities.

Key elements include:

Rendered walls finished in a bright, clean style, with integrated LED lighting to bring the garden to life during darker hours.
Vibrant planting schemes, carefully selected for colour, texture, and fragrance, alongside culinary herbs and plants used in the school’s cooking classes for older students.
Stunning shade sails, providing visual impact as well as practical comfort on sunny days.
A water wall, adding both soothing sound and visual movement, complemented by mirrors that distort reflections to spark fun and curiosity.
Resin-bound surfacing with playful tiger-print patterns, encouraging children to follow and interact with the design.
Grooved hardwood decking, producing a gentle rumbling sound as wheelchairs move across, while also providing a warm seating area in the sun.
An enclosed pergola, offering a calm retreat where children can feel secure and relaxed.

The result is an uplifting, safe, and inclusive sensory environment that is both stimulating and calming. For the pupils, it provides a place of learning, play, exploration, and comfort; for the staff and families, it is a joyful and functional extension of the school’s ethos of care.

This was truly an unforgettable project for our team – one that embodies the power of landscape design to change lives.

Client: Rachel Maddocks School, Hampshire
Designer: Paul Bentley MBALI MSGD
Contractor: Atlantes Landscapes

PROJECT GALLERY

Expert Design for Safe and Engaging School Gardens

Designing outdoor spaces for children requires more than aesthetics — it demands careful planning, expertise, and understanding how children interact with their environment. At Atlantes Landscapes, we not only create thoughtful, inclusive designs for sensory and school gardens but also build them in-house, ensuring every detail is executed to the highest standard.

Working with a professional landscaping and construction team like Atlantes Landscapes means:

Safety First: Materials, surfaces, and features meet the highest safety standards for all abilities.
Purposeful Design: Every element—from water features to decking and planting—supports learning, play, and exploration.
Seamless Integration: Our design and building teams work together to create a cohesive, stimulating environment.
Longevity and Practicality: In-house construction ensures the garden remains functional, low-maintenance, and visually appealing for years.

By combining professional design and expert construction, gardens from Atlantes Landscapes become safe, inspiring spaces where children can explore, learn, and grow, enhancing the school experience for every pupil.

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