Residents at a Nottingham nursing home can enjoy the summer in a specially-designed dementia garden after the completion of a six-month project.

The gardens at Elmbank Nursing Home in Mapperley have been re-designed as part of a £1,500 scheme which has given residents a safe and colourful outdoor space to walk in and to stimulate their senses.

The new garden contains a variety of specially-chosen flowers and plants such as lavender and honeysuckle, a water feature, bird tables with solar lighting, a new pathway for wheelchair access and outdoor furniture – all designed to help residents with dementia to cope with the condition.

Isabel Mantle, manager of Elmbank Nursing Home, said: “Dementia patients do not want to spend their lives indoors so our new garden has provided them with such a wonderful space.

“Getting outdoors and enjoying the sights, sounds and smells does wonders for people living with the condition and they can trigger memories. Although the garden has only just been finished our residents are already enjoying using it, especially with their families.

“We have introduced the right planting, comfortable seating and even lighting so everyone can enjoy the space as much as possible. It is a big hit with our residents who have also got involved in the detail, including painting their own plant pots.”

Elmbank is a registered nursing home for people with dementia including Alzheimer’s, learning disabilities and physical disabilities associated with old age.

The home is part of privately-owned Redwood Healthcare Limited and is registered with the Care Quality Commission as a care home for 35 residents.