Kentish Express Ashford & District
Improved garden offers new experiences for children
Delighted children enjoyed the opening day of The Wyvern School’s newly improved sensory garden.
Organised by teachers Becky Macey and Monika Theodosiou, it features a number of interactive features for the pupils.
Parents, pupils and staff were able to experience the new area which includes a vegetable patch and greenhouse.
Mrs Macey, who works with children with profound and multiple learning disabilities, was thrilled with the success of the day, saying: “It was lovely. The general consensus was that everyone enjoyed it.”
A team of 20 volunteers began work in March to transform the existing garden and continued to donate their spare time to the project on weekday evenings and weekends.
Mrs Macey said: “We dug it all up and started as a blank canvas. We have put in a herb garden for smelling and a water feature for blind children to hear the water trickling.
“There is also an outdoor learning area which at the moment has got bug-hunting equipment and planting equipment.”
Special thanks was given to Mark Macey, 42, for his time and efforts and Dobbies Garden Centre, which donated £600 of products, including a water feature, paving slabs, compost and garden tools. Palmstead Nurseries was also praised for providing discounted plants.
Design technology teacher Jamie Elliott assisted the students in making window boxes, bug houses and painting the shed as part of their work experience fortnight
He also produced two wheelchair-accessible desks, with more on the way for outdoor activities.
Mrs Macey said: “I just wanted the garden to be something all the children could access, and in time, I want every child to be out there and make use of it.” Right, Charlotte Hartshorne, nine, with her mum Deanna at the opening of Wyvern School’s new sensory garden