A respite care home for children with learning disabilities is appealing for help to tidy up its overgrown sensory garden.

The garden at Canon’s House in Devizes was built in 2002, in a campaign led by BBC Wiltshire Sound, but time has taken its toll and weeds have sprung up.

Jill Burry, bursar at Canon’s House, said: “The sensory garden is still how it was when they created it but it has become overgrown. All the paths are there and some things have been added – giant instruments such as hanging xylophone and drums. We would like to grass it in parts but with our gardening budget we can’t afford to buy turf.

“It’s going to take a lot of hard work to get it ready and we would like to create a scarecrow trail in the garden at our fete on June 29.

“It’s still a very beautiful and quiet area with views. It’s used mainly as a chill out area for children who stay here.

“Last year we started a vegetable patch and a lot of the children were involved in planting and watching the vegetables grow and cooking them.”

Canon’s House, in Belle Vue Road, looks after children from all over Wiltshire. Volunteers carry out tidy ups in the garden occasionally and one was organised for April 27 by Michelle Harris, a friend of Canon’s House, but was postponed by rain.

Ms Harris, 40, of Westcroft, Chippenham, said the sensory garden had special meaning to her as the ashes of her mother, Pat Brown, father Jim Brown, and foster sister Leanne Gleed, of Calne, are scattered there and there is a memorial bench for her mother.

Leanne had disabilities and stayed at Canon’s House for more than ten years. She died four years ago aged 17 and the garden is named after her.

Ms Harris said: “Leanne loved it at Canon’s House, the staff are really good there. The garden needs a good tidy up after the winter.”

Anyone who can help with materials or would like to volunteer in a tidy up can call Canon’s House on 01380 722359.