News
Tuesday 9 May 2006
User-friendly gardens going for gold
Green-fingered students from Nottingham Trent University have come up with the perfect design solution for people who are physically-challenged but want to continue to make the most of their gardens. The result is ‘Gardeners……….for Life’, a ‘three-in-one’ garden space ideal for work, rest and play, which will feature at this year’s BBC Gardeners World Live Show (June 14-18).
A team of 40 students was given the brief to design a garden space for people with physical disabilities brought on by old-age, illness or injury. They analysed the tasks which placed demands on these gardeners and looked at ways of addressing them. The Gardeners……….for Life showpiece features three gardens, each packed full of labour-saving ideas.
Raised beds for plants and vegetables will ease the strain from bending – these are made from timber and will incorporate ‘perch’ seats, allowing an easy break from work. A low maintenance chamomile lawn and a sustainable planting scheme with drought tolerant species means the space will require little watering.
Surfaces have been designed and constructed with easy access in mind. Mulches will be used to reduce - but not entirely remove - maintenance tasks and self-cleaning glass will provide shelter from wind and rain while acting as the perfect backdrop.
As part of the design process the students borrowed a simulation suit, developed by ergonomics consultants at the Ergonomics and Safety Research Institute at Loughborough University, in collaboration with the Ford Motor Company. The suit enabled them to experience first-hand how restricted movement affects our ability to use equipment, products and environments. It had joint restrictors for the hand, elbows, neck, upper and lower torso and knees.
The two outer gardens have been designed by final-year students on the Garden Design and Landscape Foundation Degree courses. The students cover a wide age range and their gardens reflect their lively gardening interest and the demands they can visualise for their own old age.
The central garden – designed by second-year, predominantly 20-year-old, students on the Design Development: Landscape and Interiors degree – is more futuristic in appearance, but is very much in keeping with the overall theme.
The project is being sponsored by retirement builder McCarthy & Stone and supported by Perennial -Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Society, the only UK charity which specifically caters for the needs of individuals within the professional horticultural industry.
Garden Design lecturer, Victoria Johnson, said: “Overall, the team is hoping their concept, to target gardening for the less mobile, will win them a coveted RHS Gold Medal.”
She added: “We are very grateful to McCarthy & Stone and Perennial for coming on board with us on this exciting project, which we hope will top our current record of two successive RHS Silver Medal wins. The students have put a great deal of time and effort into making three very interesting gardens, so I hope they can reap the rewards!”
ENDS
Notes for editors: For more information regarding McCarthy & Stone visit www.mccarthyandstone.co.uk
For Perennial – Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Society, visit www.perennial.co.uk
For more information please contact:
Dave Rogers, Press Officer, on Tel: 0115 848 2650 or via email: dave.rogers@ntu.ac.uk
Or Therese Easom, Press and Media Relations Manager, on Tel: 0115 848 6589 or via email: therese.easom@ntu.ac.uk
