THE FIRST SENSORY GARDEN IN HANOI – A SPACE FOR NATURE EDUCATION AND THERAPY IN CHILDREN

Nearly 200 volunteers joined hands to build the sensory garden with the desire to receive companionship and support to improve and become a special educational, experiential and therapeutic space for children in the center of Hanoi. The garden is designed with more than 100 plants that stimulate the development of 5 senses: Sight, Sound, Smell, Taste, and Touch; preference is given to native plants, suitable for habitat conditions.

 

In 2022, Think Playgrounds Social Enterprise (TPG) has initiated the idea of designing and creating sensory garden space in the overall project to renovate Chuong Duong forest park phase 2. According to Mr. Nguyen Tieu Quoc Dat – co-founder of TPG said: “The inclusion of sensory gardens in phase 2 of the Bờ Vở Forest Park project is an example for the community, children and people of Hanoi to see a new model – a new way of thinking that we treat public spaces through the Omniscape design language. Omniscape is a way that Japanese planners use to create a connection between people and nature, especially in urban spaces. The garden aims to not only creating a beautiful space to look at, but also giving the children the taste, sound, even touch. It is landscape planning associated with five senses, which no one has been doing in Vietnam before.”

BVIS students gardening together

A sensory garden is a space designed to maximize the experience, immersing people in nature filled with colors, sounds, shapes, materials and flavors. The garden is gradually being formed with the cooperation of nearly 200 volunteers from the community of Chuong Duong ward, students of BVIS and UNIS in Hanoi, volunteers registering online. The financial and human contributions have contributed to the basic improvement of sensory garden including: filling land in functional areas, building internal paths from recycled bricks, planting more than 50 types of trees, making fences, gates and signboards with plant information in the garden…

Volunteers assist with planting trees in the park

In the coming time, TPG wishes to continue receiving support to continue improving the garden space including: planting a variety of plants, practicing natural garden care methods (making organic compost, nourishment of soil), creating sensory stimulation experience corners (sound games,  sensory paths, insect hotels…). TPG also hopes to connect with schools to help children to learn, experience and contribute to a meaningful ecological space in the heart of Hanoi.

Children gardening
To Uyen