Solaris Dementia Friendly Garden

The project is to create a garden in the grounds of the Solaris Centre in Blackpool that are suitable and safe for visitors with Dementia and provide a therapeutic and relaxing environment for them to enjoy with their families and carers. The grounds have previously had garden elements such as raised planters and a nature garden constructed but these are not well designed. The Solaris centre is a popular destination for families and careers to visit with older people including those with dementia, because of its ease of access and its cafe facilities. However the outdoor space is unsuitable for older people and dementia suffers for a number of reasons, including a lack of suitable paths, uneven surfacing, and lack of adequate seating and points of interest. Groundwork has worked with Blackpool Council to a design a space that meets the needs of dementia suffers who visit the centre.