Around the Widex Hearing Garden
The garden's planting and design represents a typical sub-urban courtyard garden, creating a sensory wonderland that alludes to the world of hearing. Silvery willow and juvenile Eucalyptus provide a gentle background sound. Meanwhile, the jagged swords and spikes of Astelia and Fasciculia represent the frustration that can be associated with hearing loss. In contrast, soft herbaceous planting flows like a whisper around the water feature. Their mauves, greens and silvers create a sense of calm, which is enlivened by bright yellows and oranges.
The Concept
The concept for the garden arose because whilst gardens tend to be laid out and designed on a very visual, textural or coloured basis, there is so much more to being “in” a garden.
It is challenging to imagine being outside or in a garden without hearing anything - the sounds of trees, birds etc etc puts you "in" the garden - as much as the colours - you need a totally sensorial bath to get the most out of your garden.
The Listening Wall feature has also been included to explain more about how our hearing can influence what we can get out of gardening.
The Widex Hearing Garden is therefore a design that works on 2 levels. With its delicate and colourful planting, bold geometric water feature and sustainable screens, it looks great, yet the elements have dual roles to enhace the soundscape too:
In a breeze or rain:
Soft sounds from the rain or a brezze are provided by the Amelanchier Lamarkii and the soft plantings of ornamental pear , eucalyptus and salix at the back.
Enticing Wildlife:
The brighter flowering plants have proved hardy against the rain of the show and entice insects with their bright colour and nectar. Where insects come, birds follow, to produce more of our favourite garden sounds lovely sounds too.
Soothing Rhythms:
Our water feature, which has been designed to operate in a slightly random pattern, so that it whilst it provides gentle and relaxing tones, it does not get overly repetitive.
