Award for Dementia Trail design

WATTLE Flat’s Thomson Hay Landscape Architects have been celebrated for their work on the Dementia Friendly Forest and Sensory Trail.

David Hay and Heidi Mikulic have received the AILA Victoria Landscape Architecture Award in the Health and Education category for the trail, which they co-designed with Bigger Hearts Dementia Alliance Ballarat, Parks Victoria, and Friends of Canadian Corridor.

The one-kilometre compacted gravel pathway winds through a section of Woowookarung Regional Park in Canadian, and the original idea was sparked by Bigger Hearts founder Anne Tudor.

The trail is accessible for people of all abilities, wheelchairs and walkers, has wetlands, a boardwalk, and six circular outdoor rooms with large rocks.

Ms Tudor said creating the trail with Thomson Hay was the first time many Alliance members had worked with professionals who were experienced in creating accessible spaces for people with disabilities.

“It was a really exciting project. What struck me was how respectful they were, and how they took all the comments from us on board,” she said.

“Thomson Hay saw those with dementia as the experts, were engaging and embracing, and thirsty for the thoughts and ideas of people impacted by dementia.

“I am thrilled to bits about the award for the people with dementia and their carers who were involved in the co-design project, for all those that have worked to make Woowookarung Dementia Friendly Forest and Sensory Trail what it is today, and for the landscape architects.”

Friends of Canadian Corridor secretary Jeff Rootes said the award is “justly deserved.”

“This is most welcome for the wonderful work accomplished by Thomson Hay, who captured the essence of the idea,” he said.

The Trail was supported by funding from Dementia Australia, which Bigger Hearts Dementia Alliance Ballarat applied for.