RESIDENTS of Stroud Court Community Trust (SCCT) are once again able to enjoy sights, sounds and smells of their sensory garden after the overgrown grounds were restored.

Kind-hearted member of Nailsworth Rotary Club volunteered their time to trim, mow and dig the garden back to a usable state.

The restored garden was officially reopened on July 9 with a tea party attended by Trust members, staff and residents, together with members of Nailsworth Rotary Club.

SCCT offers specialist support to and is home for thirty four adults with autism and challenging behaviour.

Berylyn Mann, president of Nailsworth Rotary Club, said that this had been an ideal project enabling Rotary to give support for community work in our area.

Chris Atkins Executive Director of Stroud Court said: “Everyone here is delighted with the renovation. We cannot thank Nailsworth Rotary Club enough for the time, energy and enthusiasm they have given to this project. It is great to see the residents enjoying their new sensory garden”

Work took place over two months and involved weeding and pruning large overgrown flowering shrubs, the removal of one large conifer which was completely blocking the view down the slope to a beautiful summer house below. During the project SCCT replaced a water pump which controlled a cascade flowing through the garden, and Nailsworth Rotary Club provided funds to assist in purchasing a water feature at the top of the slope, which added a further calming interest to the site.

Further projects at Stroud Court have already been identified, and will be carried out later this year.

They will include the restoration of an original wooden summer house in the meadow near a stream, and the construction of wooden raised beds to give residents greater opportunity to get involved in the therapy of growing their own vegetables, flowers and plants.