Local retailer Craig Walmsley has come on board with the donation of a television to be raffled off to help with funding for the project. Roseneath activities officer Di Newman said Mr Walmsley has always been a great community member and supporter of the facility.

“We really want to thank Mr Walmsley because he is a great local shop owner that always supports us and the community, and in return wherever we can we like to support him. He has just been great in terms of community support,” she said.

Mrs Newman is urging people to get behind the raffle which will be drawn on Christmas Eve, as sensory gardens are not only proven to have great benefits but the decision to install the garden was made primarily by the facility’s residents. 

“What we are trying to do is have a raffle to help us set up a sensory garden for the residents, they are proven to be really therapeutic for residents and families,” she said.

“What we encourage here is residents, families and staff to all be involved when we start doing something and we have lots of input from our residents.

“It’s not what we want to do. It’s what they want to do.”

Mrs Newman also wanted to acknowledge the support of regular Roseneath visitor Anne Reddan.

“Anne is just wonderful. She comes up in her own time and does gardening for the residents which is just lovely.”