In Turin nature is rediscovered with other senses. Inside the Botanical Garden, in the heart of Valentino Park, the first sensorial gardening course in Italy dedicated to visually impaired and blind people takes shape. A project that is not limited to inclusion, but completely redefines the relationship between the individual and the natural environment. Here direct contact with the plants replaces the gaze: the scent of the herbs, the consistency of the leaves, the sound of the water become concrete and immediate learning tools.
Learning with your hands, recognizing with your senses
The initiative, promoted by the Friends of the Botanical Garden of Turin Association together with the Pro Retinopathic and Visually Impaired Association, offers a series of free meetings between April and June: the next ones will be on 23 May and 20 June from 10.30 to 12.30. These are not simple lessons, but an immersive experience where each participant is guided to develop a new form of perception.
During the course, fundamental topics such as the choice of soil, water management, plant care and sustainable cultivation techniques are addressed. But the real innovation lies in the method: each activity is designed to be accessible through touch, smell and, in some cases, even taste.
An open-air laboratory between history and biodiversity
Context amplifies the experience. The Botanical Garden of Turin, founded in 1729, is much more than a garden: it is a living museum that houses over 2,500 species of plants, trees and shrubs. Between geometric flowerbeds, tropical greenhouses and groves, every space becomes a sensorial laboratory.
Here scientific research, teaching and biodiversity conservation intertwine. The course is part of a larger project dedicated to the ecological transition and the valorization of urban nature, demonstrating how accessibility can be an integral part of environmental innovation.
Inclusion and sustainability: a replicable model
This initiative represents much more than a local event. It is a model that combines social inclusion and environmental education, showing how nature can be accessible to everyone, without barriers. The goal is not just to teach how to grow, but to build a deep connection between people and the environment. A bond that passes through direct experiences, capable of stimulating memory, emotions and awareness.
A calendar rich between nature and culture
The course is part of a larger spring program that transforms the Botanical Garden into a dynamic and open space. Photographic exhibitions, educational activities and experiential itineraries enrich the offer, making this place a point of reference for those seeking authentic contact with nature. In an era dominated by images, Turin offers a counterintuitive challenge: learning to know the world without looking at it. And perhaps for this very reason, really understand it.
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