Created in partnership with Barnet’s sight impaired community, the garden has been part funded by a legacy left by a community member

The ribbon cutting ceremony for a sensory garden for Barnet's sight impaired community — Credit – Barnet Council

A new sensory garden, which has been created in partnership with Barnet’s sight impaired community, has been officially opened in Finchley’s Victoria Park near to the café and the bowls club building.

The £80,000 sensory garden has over 200 plants that embrace the five senses: scented plants, colourful plants, plants with different textures, and plants that make different sounds when it’s windy. Many of the plants are especially attractive to insects such as bees, butterflies and moths so you may well hear the buzzing of bees and the fluttering of wings.

It includes two benches so you can sit and enjoy the peaceful location. There is also a set of four wind chimes. The sensory garden is designed to be used throughout the year. Some bulbs will appear in the spring and other plants will flower at different times of the year.

The Worshipful Mayor of Barnet, Cllr Nagus Narenthira, who officially opened the garden on Wednesday, said: “To our sight-impaired friends, I say: This garden is yours. Explore it, embrace it and let its sensory wonders envelop you. And to all our residents, I invite you to experience the magic of this new garden. May this garden be a beacon of inclusivity, reminding us that beauty knows no boundaries.”

The work has been funded with a £10,000 legacy from the Barnet Borough Sight Impaired group (BBSI) which has come from Peggy Dowling who was a member of the BBSI, £33,000 from the council’s East Area Committee, and the remainder has been funded from the Victoria Park Master Plan project.

Nigel Vandyk, Acting Chair of the BBSI, said: “Peggy was always ready to give a helping hand to anyone and everyone; a great help at our monthly meetings. Cheerily guiding us to our seats, she made sure that all our needs were met. Peggy attended the raffle and helped in the kitchen dealing with the serving of refreshments. Our thanks go to her for making it possible for us to enjoy this beautiful sensory garden.”

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else. £84 annual supporters get a print copy by post and a digital copy of each month's before anyone else.