SureSet installs resin bound paving for sensory walk at Wickmead Care Home

Following a 2013 review of Bournemouth’s care homes, to ensure they met the needs of the town’s growing elderly population, the decision was taken to close two existing homes and rebuild another in Tuckton, Southbourne – Wickmead Care Home.

Situated between Boscombe and Christchurch, Southbourne is a suburb of Bournemouth. An ideal base for exploring the New Forest, it’s a popular holiday resort just inland from the charming village of Christchurch.

In 2014, Midas Southern, a division of The Midas Group began construction on the new 50 bedroomed Wickmead Care Home. When completed this state-of-the-art facility will offer elderly, specialist dementia and nursing care.

A major aspect of the development of Wickmead Care Home was the external landscaping, with a brief that included…

That it should stimulate the senses
Be a place for residents to enjoy sharing experiences with family and friends
Protect existing tress by using ‘no dig’ materials during its construction
That, in order to maintain soil moisture and provide oxygen for the trees roots, any paving installed must be porous.

Midas Southern first contacted SureSet in September 2014 to discuss using permeable resin bound paving for the external landscaping aspect of the project.

The Landscape Architect, Lynne Williams, created a wonderful design for Wickmead with cleverly defined areas that can be clearly identified by residents.

The design has two gardens linked by a Sensory Walk, for which SureSet was specified, and were designed to help orientate residents to the entry points of the communal rooms.

The Sensory Walk takes in the Sensory Garden, which is overlooked by the communal lounge, café and shop and provides the perfect social space for barbeques and fêtes. And the Dementia Garden, which is positioned off the main lounge, providing an area for outdoor sitting and activities.

Laid expertly by hand, SureSet resin bound paving fulfilled the ‘no dig’ criteria. While the permeability of SureSet satisfied the requirement for porous paving to allow water and oxygen to reach the roots of the tree.

Wickmead Care Home is located tantalisingly close to the picturesque River Stour. A charming, purpose-built nursing, dementia and residential care home that sits in the heart of Tuckton village.

In a pleasant, peaceful setting that offers a welcoming ‘home from home’ feeling, Wickmead Care Home has beautifully landscaped gardens that features sculptures, water features and planting all designed to stimulate all of your senses.

The SureSet Sensory Walk links the landscape design together and delivers the perfect non-slip surface for its elderly residents – the stone free, low maintenance finish will last for more than 25 years.

Project specification: