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Advice on sensory garden

Shelley SShelley S Posts: 6
in Garden design
I am one of a team of volunteer gardeners at our local hospice. We have been trying to develop a workable plan to create a specific sensory garden within the overall garden, in conjunction with a member of the team fundraising. It seems like we have been going round in circles for several months. 
Any advice would be gratefully received. We know the basics & have had many ideas but there are a few issues. In particular that of a water feature is being rather contentious. We were looking at a solar powered sphere type one. However the site is windy & a previous fountain style feature in the garden was a complete disaster. It needs to be low maintenance, hopefully trouble free. Is this feasible? 

Posts

  • WaterbutWaterbut Posts: 344
    A solar fountain is great but you have to do a lot of research to find a suitable one. My one is working well in its 3rd year but it does not have a back up battery system which means it does not work on cloudy days.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Solar fountains are the easiest option, but they can be a bit of a lottery. 
    I would suggest something more like a pot where water trickles down the sides into an underground reservoir rather than a fountain. That way you still get the sound, but with less evaporation. 
    This kind of thing.
    https://www.robertdyas.co.uk/tranquility-50cms-stainless-steel-sphere-solar-powered-water-feature

    It would hopefully look good even when not working  :)

    The problem is of course the amount of sunlight etc. If fundraising would allow, l would be inclined to go for a mains powered one. You may be able to find a qualified electrician who would do the work for free, althoughthere are the running costs to consider,  not cheap in this day and age.
  • Shelley SShelley S Posts: 6
    AnniD said:
    Solar fountains are the easiest option, but they can be a bit of a lottery.
    I would suggest something more like a pot where water trickles down the sides into an underground reservoir rather than a fountain. That way you still get the sound, but with less evaporation. 
    This kind of thing.
    https://www.robertdyas.co.uk/tranquility-50cms-stainless-steel-sphere-solar-powered-water-feature
    It was something like this we were considering but the issue of maintenance, cleaning & H&S are causing concern from some quarters. 
    With so many other priorities we are going to put things on the back burner for now.
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