STAFF at a Taunton garden centre have recently donated a topiary teddy bear to a sensory garden that is being developed in the area.

Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre at Monkton Heathfield has donated the four and a half foot sculpture to The Friends of Vivary Park, which is overseeing the garden’s construction.

General Manager of the family-run garden centre, Norma Moore said: “We have a number of topiary trees in the garden centre’s entrance that always create a stir with customers, so we thought we’d get a special design made for the new sensory garden at Vivary Park.

“Although our teddy is looking a little bare at the moment, with a little love and care it will only be a matter of time before it looks fantastic.”

The sensory garden, which is a former boating lake, has been designed to benefit people of all ages with sight, hearing and mobility problems as well as people with learning difficulties.

Norma continued: “Visitors to the garden will be able to find our topiary teddy nestled among scented plants and shrubs, a beautiful gushing water feature made from intricate mosaic tiles and lots of interesting aquatic-themed designs that draw on the park’s former use as a vivarium.

“It really will be a tantalising experience for all the senses. The creation of the sensory garden has been a real community effort and we are delighted to be a part of it. I hope that lots of people will visit the garden when it launches in August (2010), although an official opening date hasn’t yet be set.”

The project has been funded by a £22,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund’s Community Spaces programme. It has also received funding from Taunton Deane Borough Council’s unparished funding.

Shaun Cregan, Chairman of The Friends of Vivary Park, added: “Work on the sensory garden started earlier this year (2010) and is now almost complete.

“It’s thanks to donations like the topiary teddy from Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre that we’ve been able to create this wonderful space, which we hope will be used by all the community.

“We are very grateful for the garden centre’s contribution. The topiary teddy looks fantastic and is a welcome addition to the garden.”

To find out more, please drop into Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre, which is located just off the A38 at Monkton Heathfield near Taunton, or call 01823 412381.

Photograph caption: Plant Advisor at Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre, Dan Welch with the topiary teddy bear.