Edible shade in sensory gardens

We use trees for shade in sensory gardens and increasingly we're choosing fruit trees for shade.

From a sustainability point of view fruit trees offer scented, beautiful, attractive blossom, food for pollinating insects, attractive-looking fruit, a source of local free fresh food for the community, add habitat-aiding biodiversity, their leaves cool the surrounding air through transpiration, and the trees filter and absorb rainwater to slow its progress into the ground water reservoir.

Coincidentally, when mature, fruit trees tend to be good for climbing, adding to both the (natural) play value of the site. Trees such as apples can be pruned or creatively trained to give a low, easy access, open structure.