Official opening of the new sensory garden

Over 20 invited guests, including corporate and trust funders, attended a tour of RNC’s new sensory and working gardens in late August, which was formerly opened by The Mayor of Hereford, Councillor Jacqui Carwardine.


Despite the wet weather, visitors were pleased to see how a once plain patch of grass has been transformed, through over £45,000 of funding, into an oasis of calm and beauty with accessible paths, a water feature, raised beds and seating areas, all bordered by highly scented planting.





Guests enjoyed delicious tea and scones, taking shelter in the polytunnels where students will continue working to sow, grow and nurture plants to sell at their public plant sales, and for planting in the new gardens.





The gardens will enhance RNC’s estate and teaching programme for many years to come so thanks to all involved including contractors, students, staff and gardening volunteers Phil Griffiths and Paul Smith.

We would like to thank the following funders for helping to create our sensory garden:

allpay Limited, Antelope Trust, Asda Foundation, Barnard Kenneth Hufton Charity, The Beaumont Trust, The Brian Shaw Memorial Trust, Conrad Energy Community Fund, The Cornus Trust, The D'oyly Carte Charitable Trust, The DS Smith Charitable Foundation, The Duke of Devonshire's CT, EF Bulmer Trust, The Grace Trust, The HDH Wills 1965 CT, The Helianthus CT, Kim Preece Trust for the Visually Impaired, KJ Tandy Will Trust, Neigbourly/Seeds of Change, The Nineveh CT, The Roger & Douglas Turner CT, The Souter CT, The Stanley Smith (UK) Horticultural Trust.