Making Sense of Your Garden
We are working on two different community projects at the moment, both of which include a sensory garden. It is so much fun designing these spaces and ensuring every sense is stimulated. Here are some of the features we are considering for these spaces which could be easily incorporated into any garden…
An outdoor xylophone
These xylophones are great for adding colour and sound to the garden. Kids will love making “music” here for hours.
Hanging lanterns
We love these home made lanterns hanging from the pergola. Watch them sway and hear them rustle in the breeze. A great way to include the kids’ craft projects outdoors.
Standing Stone
These standing stone water features are very popular in the gardens we design as each one is unique and they give a wonderful, relaxing sound as the water gently splashes down the sides. But they would be a great addition to a sensory garden too allowing children to touch the stone and feel it as the water cascades over their hands as well as hearing its sound.
Standing stone water feature
A sensory garden wall
This is such a brilliant way of giving kids a nice neat area to explore. Handles, switches, artificial grass, anything can be added as long as it’s interesting to touch. We’d like to explore adding batteries to the back of some compartments so sound/light can be included. Perhaps add a lego board to one section and have a pot of lego pieces which could be stuck on by children? There is so much scope to make this space entertaining and easy to update over the years.
Another way of making a dull corner more interesting is upcycling lots of items from the house to use in different ways: pots and pans make great drums; old grill pans are great for making a noise; bottle shakers; wind chimes made from old keys and shells. Just get creative!
A sensory garden tree
This craft tree could be made by the children making each leaf truly unique and a wonderful feature. Each leaf would be created using different materials such as mosaics, buttons, shells etc so they all feel and look different.
A sensory garden tub
This is a great way for children to learn about nature. Change the contents each month/season to keep it interesting and fresh. Try blindfolding the children to make a fun game of guessing what they can feel. Add things that smell, taste and sound good too.
All of this teamed with some amazing sensory planting creates an exciting place for children to explore. Wouldn’t your kids have a ball with some of these items in your garden? For advice on how to create a sensory garden and a space for the whole family to enjoy, please get in touch.
Best wishes,
All at Vialii
Provost’s Park Blossoms
The completed park
Being based in the village, we have been delighted to have been involved in the project from its initial concept right through the funding process and throughout the build and are thrilled to be able to give something back to the community for residents and visitors to enjoy.
Since the controversial new toilet block was finally completed in Bridge of Allan, the space around it, known as Provost’s Park, had largely been left untouched and was a sad space in an otherwise beautiful and prosperous village. The Provost’s Lamp had been renovated and given a new life but its surroundings had yet to be brought up to the same standard.
Before: the park was not befitting of beautiful Bridge of Allan
We were approached in late 2010 to discuss the possibility of being involved in the renovation of Provost Park. As a local company based in Bridge of Allan, we were delighted to be able to provide advice and designs for the benefit of the community.
Initially, Michael and Jill Burt met with some of the Community Council to discuss the project. Jill recalls:
“It was in the middle of a cold snap in the winter of 2010 when we first met up Gavin Drummond and Liz Rankin from the Community Council. They were putting up the village Christmas tree in the park to try and add some sparkle to what was otherwise an uninspiring space. At least the thick covering of snow hid the lack of interest underneath! At the meeting Liz and Gavin discussed some of the ideas that had been considered for the space and asked if we were able to pull together some thoughts.”
The design for the new Provost’s Park
Jill explains the inspiration for the design:
“There were three main requirements which jumped out at us from the outset. Firstly, the community required a practical area where they can relax and enjoy the world going by. The space needed to be usable by everyone in the community whether that’s families, couples or elderly so path widths and surfaces were important. Plentiful seating was clearly important too. Secondly, the area had to look good. The Friends of Bridge of Allan, who look after many of Bridge of Allan’s public gardens, carry out fantastic work in the community and Provost’s Park has been a contentious issue for some time. We were keen to design a space that the community could all be proud of and be happy to use. It’s a great space, right in the middle of the village so it needed to have the “wow factor” and be fitting of its focal point in such an attractive village. Lastly, we were keen to reflect the Victorian inspiration which surrounds the park and the spa village and design a garden which would be appropriate for the space.
The gazebo makes a wonderful focal point
“The main focal point for the design is a stunning, cast iron gazebo, situated in the centre of the formal gardens. Victorians loved symmetry and topiary so we made sure these were key features of the space. Vintage style bricks edge wide pathways suitable for all members of the community. Decorative metal screens surround the toilet block providing a nicer backdrop to the gardens and include details inspired by the village itself. In the corner closest to the toilets, an ecclesiastical garden has been created, reflecting the park once being the site of a church. Liz managed to obtain beautiful pew benches from one of the village churches which sit in this area looking onto a centre bed of perfumed plants. The central focal point of this area is the existing stone fountain.
The wall which runs the length of Provost Park will boast new interpretation boards highlighting some of the key features and historical information about Bridge of Allan. To the front of the park, a grassy area has been included, allowing space to sit out and relax and watch the world passing by.
The ecclesiastical garden and the new screens
View down onto the new Provost’s Park
The official opening will take place on Sunday 28th September 2014 from 3pm. The official opening will be undertaken by Gavin Drummond and our very own Lulu Burt. There will be music from Beaconhurst School and dancers from Dance Connections. Malcolm Allan will be giving a short talk on the Park and there will be refreshments, a slideshow and a performance by Dance Connections in the Parish Church afterwards. All are very welcome and we hope you can join us to celebrate this wonderful project.
Lulu preparing to open the new Provost’s Park
You can read more about Provost’s Park and our other garden transformations on our website.
Best wishes,
All at Vialii
Vialii Review of 2013
Happy new year to all our lovely readers. As we move forward into 2014, we take a moment to have a review of 2013 and some of the highlights for Vialii and the trends that we saw…
A lovely visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh in 2013
The year of the garden room
2013 saw our clients wholeheartedly embrace the outdoor room. From designer offices to simpler summerhouses we had several clients wanting to introduce outdoor living areas into their gardens. One of our favourites was this custom built garden pod which provided shelter from the rain and prevailing wind whilst still making you feel part of the garden. And with two more garden rooms already lined up for 2014 this trend doesn’t look like it’s going away…
The garden “pod” is a great focal point in this garden as well as somewhere to shelter from the weather
The year “Lulu’s Garden” launched
Our very own Lulu started up her own gardening blog for our sister company Vialii Garden Services in 2013. She puts us at VGD to shame with her regular, fun and educational blogs on all aspects of gardening. Click here to catch up on what’s happening in Lulu’s Garden…
Lulu launched her own blog, all about fun and interesting things to do in (or related to) the garden
The year of the Community Garden
2013 saw us being involved in two community garden projects. Our design of Provost’s Park in Bridge of Allan finally came to life in October and we completed our designs for the Jupiter Urban Wildlife Garden too. It was an honour to be involved in both projects and we look forward to spending time in both gardens in 2014.
The construction of our Provost’s Park design got underway in 2013
The year of the Vialii team
Our talented Vialii team sprouted new buds and grew well in 2013. Corrie and Gordon were joined by Neil on the maintenance side while both Connor and Kenny came on board for VGD in 2013. Jill also officially joined Michael working in the business in 2013 and with Lulu busily blogging away, Vialii became a true family business. We look forward to the team growing from strength to strength in 2014.
The Vialii team on a well earned night out
The year of upcycling
From a garden in Glasgow featuring lots of upcycled items, our own upcycled products made from old pallets to the “Upcycled Garden” for the Scottish Wildlife Trust, 2013 was the year for making the most of what you had.
Bespoke garden planters made from upcycled pallets
The year of the garden visits
Well to be honest, every year is packed full of garden visits at Vialii Towers and 2013 was no exception. From Glendoick and Branklyn to Logan and Alnwick we had our fair share of wonderful gardens in 2013, not to mention the wonderful centenary of the Chelsea Flower Show.
Lulu providing a tour of Logan Botanic Gardens
The year of artificial turf
We laid many new lawns with artificial turf last year – whilst it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, the quality these days is great and can be a wonderful solution for gardens with issues with soil and light and for those with children and/or dogs.
Artificial turf can transform an area where real grass struggles
The year of the sunshine
OK, the start of the year was pretty miserable but who cares when we get such a glorious summer?! The long, hot sunny days were wonderful for sitting enjoying gardens but also a lovely change when working outside building them too! Here’s hoping to a repeat in 2014!
An escape to the beach in the glorious summer of 2013
So, there you have it, 2013 in a nutshell (or a blog!) Here’s hoping that 2014 is as much fun.
Happy 2014 everyone.
From all at Vialii