MAGIC GARDEN
School's place of peace and stimulation
‘‘Some children like to have a quiet space to read, colour-in or just sit and chat with a friend.’’ Kerry Howard, Central Normal School assistant principal
Pupils of a Palmerston North school will be able to enjoy a garden designed to be both peaceful and to stimulate the senses.
Central Normal School now has a special garden to help pupils find tranquility.
The ‘‘sensory garden’’ was commissioned by the school’s Te Ohu Panoni group, which is made up of staff members striving to develop cultural inclusiveness.
Assistant principal Kerry Howard said the aim of the project was to give pupils a restful area where they could still enjoy the outdoors.
‘‘Some children like to have a quiet space to read, colour-in or just sit and chat with a friend.’’
Howard is thankful for the school-wide effort that allowed the project to flourish, and support from parents.
An important part of the garden is its sensory path, designed for pupils who have sensory challenges.
Pupils are encouraged to take off their shoes when walking along the path, which is made up of different textures, such as gravel, wood, artificial grass, bark, rubber matting, pebbles and concrete tiles.
Each of the school’s five teams created something special for the garden.
Wha¯ rite painted wooden posts for the garden’s bridge, Maharahara painted rocks for a game of tic-tac-toe, Matanginui made a wall sculpture from handcarved pieces of pumice, Manawatu¯ painted two friendship benches and Te Awawaru gifted panels decorated with Ma¯ ori art to frame the gateway into the garden.
Dat Lieu, whose 10-year-old daughter Azalea attends the school, was the landscaper for the project.
Junior class teacher Rachel Mason documented each stage of the garden’s development in a photo book presented to Lieu as a thank-you gift from the school.
For year 6 pupil Mairangi Iwikau, the friendship benches are a highlight.
‘‘I like the colourful benches because you can sit in the shade and talk to your friend.’’
Five-year-old Logan Hayton started school this week and likes the garden’s bridge because of its array of colours.
More art features, herb and vegetable patches will be added to the garden in the next few months.