New sensory garden for disabled children

A new sensory garden for disabled children is to be officially opened this week.

Young people volunteering with the Prince’s Trust and Perth and District YMCA will open the garden at Woodlea Cottage respite centre on Friday, April 21.

The garden will use touch, smell and sound to help the children at the centre interact and experience sensations, as well as being able to play on the swings and trampoline.

The volunteers, who all experience barriers to gaining employment, have also been able to learn valuable skills and meet with potential employers throughout the project.

Franny McGrath from the YMCA, who has been leading the project, said:“The young people needed to decide on a project that will benefit the local community and they decided to do up the garden at Woodlea Cottage.

“The team came up with idea of having the sensory garden around touch, smell and sound.

“For touch there will be a barefoot path going through a willow tunnel with artificial grass so the blind children can feel all the sensations.

“The smell have has tyres created into planting pots with smelly herbs and painted in bright colours.

“The sound section will have wind chimes and there will be a camouflaged den with a waterproof speaker playing woodland noises.

“The children can go through the garden and experience every sensation.

“This garden will really enhance the experience at the cottage.

“For the children who are away from home, they can interact with everything in the sensory garden.

“This is also a great example of young people helping other young people.

“We really couldn’t have done this without the support of Perth College UHI and Perth and Kinross Council, or the businesses who have contributed paint and plants to help the team.”

The garden will have an official opening ceremony with the team of young volunteers, businesses who contributed to the project, and staff and children at Woodlea Cottage, at 12.30pm on Friday, April 21.