Essex-based gardener Rebecca Williams incorporated Trex composite decking into her Showcase Garden at BBC Gardeners’ World Live, which was designed for the blind and visually impaired.
Rebecca’s garden was called Sensed, Not Seen, and raised money for the charity Support 4 Sight. It received a gold award and was featured on Friday’s programme of Gardeners’ World Live, BBC2.
Sensed, Not Seen is an accessible space that was designed to invite connection with those living with a visual impairment and celebrate the senses beyond sight. The showcase was inspired by her father, who started losing his sight in his early twenties, before later becoming completely blind.
Rebecca said: “I think we all take our sight for granted and can’t even imagine what it would be like to start losing our vision at any age.
“I hope to have created a space which is safe, accessible and can be enjoyed by all, celebrating the senses beyond sight.”
Sadly, Rebecca's father passed away recently. "The garden feels even more special now, in his memory," she said.
Every element of the Showcase Garden was thoughtfully designed for blind and visually impaired visitors to connect deeply with nature.
This included a sensory planter, which invited guests to touch, smell, listen and taste, which was made using TrexâEnhanceâ composite deck boards in the colour Saddle, a classic brown shade with a wood-like grain pattern.
The boards were donated by the team at Trex to help with the creation of the Showcase Garden.
“We were delighted to support this incredible project by contributing our composite deck boards for the design,” said Lee Heitzman, UK and Ireland Market Manager at Trex. “It’s great to see people like Rebecca spreading awareness on such important topics to make gardens more accessible.”
The design featured a level pathway to safely lead users to the planter alongside a calm seating area beneath a jasmine-draped archway. Additional elements include water features and wind chimes to create a soothing soundscape.
Support 4 Sight supports visually impaired people and their families in Essex. Its expert staff and trained volunteers provide its services to assist people coming to terms with losing their sight.
“With Trex composite decking being low-maintenance and high-quality, our products are a good accessible option,” Lee says. “Trex decks don’t need sanding or staining and won’t splinter.”
BBC Gardeners’ World Live took place on 18 – 21 June in Birmingham, bringing the popular BBC television show to life. Its series of Showcase Gardens offered ideas and inspiration for small gardens and spaces.
