Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show
Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens
March 24-28, 2010

For anyone with full sight, it can be hard to imagine what life would be like after vision loss. Right from our early beginnings, we have made a commitment to help the Victorian community develop a much greater understanding and empathy for those who are blind or vision impaired. We conduct tours, send speakers to schools and community groups, have on site events such as Open Day and use the media to highlight the laws surrounding Guide Dog access.

At this year's Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS) Guide Dogs Victoria will be unveiling a new and innovative way to demonstrate to the public the way in which people with vision impairment can interact with the outdoors – a sensory garden. From fragrant blooms, tactile foliage, the soothing sound of a water feature to interesting surfaces under foot, a sensory garden is a unique way for anyone to appreciate the great outdoors.

In 2008, a sensory garden took home the top honours of the Chelsea Garden Show in the UK. Looking for fun and unique ways to engage and educate the public, Guide Dogs Victoria decided to pitch this idea to 2009 MIFGS Bronze medal winning landscape designer, James Dawson (James Dawson Landscape Design - www.jdldesign.com.au). James jumped at the chance to provide his time and talent to us pro bono and create a unique sensory garden for display at the 2010 MIFGS.

James says “This will be a garden for people with vision impairment that although will be visually strong, will have heightened levels of smell, sound and physical texture. It will also be styled in such a way as to maximise the ease of mobility for those with poor or no sight. This garden treats the sighted and unsighted as equals.”

It is our hope that this garden will enable the public to further appreciate the joys of nature and understand the often challenging perspective of someone living with vision loss or blindness.

Set within the unique World Heritage Listed Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens, the garden will be on display during the course of the show from 24 - 28 March, 2010.
 

*NEWSFLASH* 

Come and visit the Sensory Garden for your chance to meet some cute Guide Dog pups in training and enter the draw to win a readymade rustic herb garden and two-hour garden consultation with our award winning designer, James Dawson!