A SENSORY garden to help dementia sufferers has opened at a day centre.

Castle Point mayor Andrew Sheldon launched the garden at the Silver Birch Centre, in Benfleet, after it received £10,000 to create the space.

The centre, which opened last year, created the garden to help provide an area of peace and tranquillity for people they care for.

It was made possible thanks to a donation from the Baily Thomas Charitable Fund, an organisation leading research into learning disability.

Angela Allum, 56, who works with the dementia care team at Silver Birch, said: “We had wanted to do something like this for a while.

“The idea was to design and build a sensory garden and we were fundraising until the foundation donated £10,000. It was amazing and we are all so grateful.’’ The garden has water features and raised planters for people to plant in. They are growing their own vegetables.

Angela added: “It’s a lovely, calming area for people to sit in and just be at one with nature.

“We haven’t had this sort of thing before, so it’s wonderful.

“We had all the heavy machinery needed donated and hired for free, which was a big help, and saved us hundreds, and had volunteers helping with the work.”

Paul Ramsden, 46, chief executive of Carers’ Choice, which runs the dementia unit, said: “As the weather is getting better, it was obvious we needed an outdoor space for our clients and people to enjoy.

“It’s all about engaging dementia suffers with activities and keeping them active, as it is proven this can help.

“The sensory garden means our clients can watch plants grow and try some gardening.

“This, along with the scents and sights of the garden, will help to bring back memories.”