A SENSORY garden has been built in a York churchyard to help visitors interpret past buildings in the city.

York Archaeological Trust has developed the £35,000 garden, named Sensory Detective, in St Saviourgate's churchyard, off Walmgate.

The garden has been planted with historically-accurate sensory plants, and features an interactive exhibition containing clues to help interpret past buildings.

It also includes fragments of lost buildings excavated by the trust, and is designed to compliment the indoor interactive Archaeological Resource Centre.

The landscaping was undertaken by landscape architects Estell Warren and Brambledown Landscape Services, and was designed by York's Past Forward.

The garden has audio posts and large print information panels with Braille.

Money for the venture has come from the Clore Foundation, York Civic Trust, Patricia and Donald Shepherd Charitable Trust, the Shepherd Building Group and Yorventure.

Updated: 11:02 Friday, August 24, 2001