A long-awaited sensory garden created by members of a charity has officially opened.

East Kent Mencap launched the project at Seashells Children and Families Centre in Sheerness, where the charity is based, after being awarded £7,570 through GrantScape last year.

The charity has been working with children who use the Rose Street site, school pupils and other groups to transform the area with the help of local garden designer Alex Toomer, who has worked previously with other groups within the centre.

A gardening group which had worked on some of the previous raised beds proved popular, and it was requested that members have a space of their own.

The area beneath the windows was originally a mess of wild and unwanted weeds in contaminated soil, but now visitors are greeted by bright colours, the smell of aromatic herbs, a water feature, stepping stones, a grass sofa and a horseshoe-shaped flower bed where wheelchair users can be surrounded by plants that stimulate the senses.

Mayor and Mayoress of Swale, Cllr George and Brenda Bobbin, officially opened the garden last Tuesday with an open day and a session with Kent Wildlife Trust in which children made bug boxes and bird feeders and learned which plants attract particular creatures.

Resource manager Jaime Giddings said: “Before the New Year, we were able to plan what we would like in our garden. We met with Alex, and he came back with a sketch of what it would look like.

“Over the months, as the space has developed, everyone has been getting a lot more interested in what is going on and getting involved where they can.”

Mr Toomer said: “The raised beds contain edible herbs, and it is wide enough for wheelchair users to get in there.

“We’ve tried to get in as many kinds of colourful plants and ferns which will attract wildlife. I wanted to use recyclable materials and make sure there is something sensory for everyone.”