Jardim sensorial: o paisagismo como ferramenta de inclusão social e educação ambiental

This article is the result of an extension project carried out at the Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais, located in Passos, where the construction of a Sensory Garden aimed at the visually impaired was used for environmental education and social inclusion. Sensory gardens are designed to stimulate the human body senses by means of plants and materials present in a certain place which can generate multiple benefits ranging from well-being to the recovery of memories. For that purpose, a landscape project was elaborated graphically representing the layout of the garden, the species, and the chosen materials, focusing on their organoleptic properties potential. The  visits were conducted in a guided way and visitors were invited to explore a sensory trail where different materials could be sensed with their feet and, after that, they were also invited to go through sectors where plants played sensitive roles by being touched, smelled and, in some cases, tasted. The activities with the visitors included explanations about the morphology of different species and their benefits. Visitors were also invited to take part in interactive dynamics. After that, visitors were asked to answer a questionnaire in order to assess the sensations experienced and the learning obtained during the visit. The sensory garden proved to be a significant opportunity to provide visitors with knowledge, leisure, and well-being in an inclusive way, which fulfils the university's social role, by providing them with proximity to nature and environmental awareness especially for those in need of social support.