The Sensory Garden, Holmebrook Valley Park

This garden was laid out in 1998 as a Memorial Garden in memory of Alf Gatward and the work he did with the disabled people in Chesterfield.

By 2009 the garden had become overgrown and weed ridden and a group of volunteers from the Friends of Holmebrook Valley Park Group obtained permission from the Chesterfield Borough Council to refurbish the garden so that it could once again be enjoyed by visitors to the park.

The Friends retained the theme of a garden for all to enjoy and it is accessible to wheelchairs and mobility scooters and seating to sit and enjoy the garden and the wide vistas beyond. The plants are safe for children to enjoy and are focused on visual and scented plants that attract bees and butterflies. There are plants for young children to touch and smell and a scent recognition game for young children to enjoy.

Funding for the garden has been obtained from the Newbold and Brockwell Community Forum, with funds to repair and replace the seating in the garden part funded by the North East Derbyshire Accessibility Partnership Development Fund. After a year of hard work the garden was officially opened by the Mayor on 11th September 2010. It is now ready once again to be used to give pleasure to the many people who frequent the park throughout the year.

This project could not have been achieved without the dedicated work of a group of volunteers and the financial contribution of an anonymous donor from the Friends of Holmebrook Valley Park and funding from the Newbold and Brockwell Community Forum.

Thanks must go to Peter Barr, Joan and Cyril Botham, Anne Frazer, Rob and Ann Gibson, David Haworth, Sonia Hulett, Tony Marron and Colin Plevey.

Jean Barr,

Former Chair of the Friends of Holmebrook Valley Park Group

Progress Photographs of the Garden