A sensory garden is an intentionally designed garden or outdoor area that nurtures and enriches all sensory systems through stimulation, courtesy of plants and materials that engage one’s senses of sight, smell, touch, and sound
Sensory gardens are popular with and beneficial to both children and adults, especially those with sensory processing issues, including autism, dementia, and Alzheimer’s. For others, it can simply be a safe space to go without feeling overwhelmed, which may also help hone coping skills and the ability to get through the day.
Located at 776 Rosedale Road in Kennett Square, New Leaf features nature trails, a honey bee apiary, a cairn-building station, and opportunities to observe wildlife, photograph nature, and explore the stream.
The sensory garden serves as a hub for young children and families to engage with the natural world through interactive features making this preserve perfect for honest exploration.
Story Walk
New Leaf features a story walk funded by the E. Kneale Dockstader Foundation. Visitors can follow the trail loop to find pages of a nature-inspired children’s book changed seasonally and read along as you explore the meadow.
Cairn Garden
Visitors can cross the creek and follow the hopping logs to build their very own architectural creation, known as a cairn. A cairn is a human-made stack of stones, historically constructed as a memorial or landmark. Visitors can focus their attention on stacking rocks next to the babbling creek and experience the calming effect. We do ask visitors to please only build cairns at the designated station with the stones provided.
Pollinator Garden
Thanks to a generous donation from The Xerces Society, TLC planted a 6,000 sq. ft. area at New Leaf this past spring with native flower plant species that enhance monarch butterfly and other important pollinator habitats in the Northeast. The eastern monarch population has declined more than 80% since the 1990s due to multiple threats, including habitat loss and degradation, pesticide exposure, and climate change. These plants offer high quality, pesticide-free habitat to help protect this iconic insect.
Apiary
New Leaf’s honey bee apiary has been thriving since 2011, thanks to our donors and grant funders and, of course, the honey bee colonies. The hives are maintained using organic methods by Mike Langer, owner of Brandywine Bee Company and member of the Chester County Beekeepers Association. Between May and October, Mike leads Open Hive Day workshops for current and prospective beekeepers and those who are simply interested in learning about the world of honey bees.
Texture Tiles
Dig into a dozen different materials to compare size, texture, weight, and more in the fun texture tiles. Can you identify the materials by touch alone? The tiles help provide a tactile experience for children and anyone who enjoys getting their hands dirty.