Nestled between the children’s play area and the aviaries in Pittville Park, Cheltenham, a new sensory garden has taken root — combining planting, sculpture, and community spirit to create a space that’s tactile, visual, and alive with engagement. Led by Friends of Pittville, with input from local artists, volunteers, and park users, this project is more than just beautification. It seeks to be inclusive, interactive, and rooted in local heritage.
Origins & Vision
The project emerged from the observation that six large brick planters between the play area and aviaries had become overgrown and uninspiring. In 2024, Friends of Pittville’s Green Space Volunteers proposed converting these beds into sensory gardens. The plan was not just to replant — but to create a place that appeals to children and adults alike, one that stimulates multiple senses, teaches about nature, and encourages lingering and discovery.
Artistic and sculptural elements were seen as key to the design. Signage, textures, colours, and even “spy-holes” are used to invite exploration. A wooden sculpture carved from a fallen holm oak — itself a product of a local storm — both anchors the garden and serves as a focal point of interaction.
The Sculpture by Natasha Houseago
One of the standout features is the commissioned sculpture by Natasha Houseago, a local artist known for robust, abstract wooden carvings in public spaces, often with community involvement.
The sculpture was carved from a section of a fallen holm oak, more than three metres long, which had come down during local storms. Using this reclaimed wood not only gave the project a sustainable foundation but also ensured that the artwork was rooted in the park’s own natural history.
Natasha Houseago’s approach is one of “direct carving,” meaning she works with a single piece of wood vertically, responding to the grain and form rather than following rigid preliminary plans. The process began with stripping the bark and marking out key shapes in chalk. She then used chainsaws to block out rough forms, before refining them with chisels, gouges, and grinders.
Community involvement was also at the heart of the work. Houseago spoke with passers-by as she carved on-site, answering questions and inviting people to watch the transformation unfold. Children, in particular, were encouraged to take part, collecting small sticks that were later embedded as pegs in the sculpture. The design itself was conceived with interaction in mind, considering how people might touch the surface, walk around the piece, and even peer through openings to experience it from multiple perspectives.
Now complete, the sculpture is about two metres high.
The Gardens & Planting Scheme
The six brick planters have each been allocated to represent one of the senses. The idea is that each bed will offer a sensory theme: smell, touch, sight, sound and taste. Planting has been chosen to suit these themes, making use of vibrant colours, textures, fragrant plants, and tactile surfaces.
Other sensory or interactive features include:
- Bug hotels, built with Men in Sheds, to encourage wildlife and give people a close-up way to engage with insects.
- Seating: Brightly coloured benches are planned so people can rest, observe, or simply enjoy the garden.
- Signage: Friends of Pittville have placed signage on each bed to reflect each focus, along with links to more information.
Timeline & Completion
- Design & planning started around 2024.
- The planting began in spring 2025.
- In June 2025, Natasha Houseago began carving the sculpture in-position in front of the aviaries.
Launch
The official opening of the Sensory Garden and the unveiling of the large carving takes place in front of the aviaries at 10.30am on Tuesday 30 September. Many of the people involved in the project will be in attendance, and the unveiling will be performed by the Mayor of Cheltenham, Councillor Dr David Willingham. Hosted by Friends of Pittville, the event will include short speeches from the Mayor and Chris Archibald, along with an explanation of the inspiration behind her carving from Natasha Houseago. It is an informal occasion, where guests are able to chat with those involved in the project and meet the new Green Space Coordinator, Barbara Leigh.
Impact & Significance
This project represents more than just a pleasant new corner of park; several key values stand out:
- Inclusivity — By designing for different senses and ensuring tactile, accessible features, the garden is welcoming to people of different ages and abilities.
- Community engagement — Volunteers have been deeply involved in planting, construction (bug hotels etc.), design input; artist Natasha’s process included working in public, inviting passers-by to engage.
- Sustainability & heritage — Using fallen local wood for the sculpture, choosing native or fragrant/tactile plants, thinking about long-lasting, safe materials.
- Well-being & education — Such sensory gardens have therapeutic benefits, invite mindfulness, offer learning about plants, insects and trees; this one is especially oriented toward children and families.
Reflections & What’s Next
While many elements are now in place, as of mid-2025 the garden is still in the phase of settling in: plants maturing, interactions being refined, and public response emerging. Continued maintenance by FoP volunteers will be crucial. Bench seating, finishing touches on sculpture and signage, and perhaps additional artwork are likely to evolve.
The Sensory Garden & Sculpture project in Pittville Park is a vivid example of how local communities, artists, and volunteers can come together to enhance public space in ways that are beautiful, meaningful, and inclusive. It transforms previously underused planters into an immersive, sensory-rich environment, turning passive green space into an interactive, evolving landscape.
In doing so, Friends of Pittville have not only added a feature to the park — they’ve provided a place for discovery, reflection, learning, and joy.
