SENSELESS
Sensory garden for autistic kids is trashed
Community workers have been left devastated after mindless yobs trashed a sensory garden for children with autism – just weeks after it opened.
Staff at Reach Lanarkshire Autism in Cambuslang had spent many months and considerable effort securing funding for the garden, and countless hours working alongside volunteers to bring it to fruition.
Youngsters with autism also contributed to the project by helping to sculpt the garden and make play equipment. The garden was officially opened at the Reach Lanarkshire Autism building in August, but workers were gutted on Friday morning when they discovered it had been wrecked.
Ellen Feerick, a neighbourhood development and activity coordinator with Reach, and colleague Helen Roberts had launched the sensory garden project to give kids with autism a safe, comfortable place to play.
She said: “I’m disgusted at what’s happened. Myself and Helen are gutted because this was our project and so much work was put into it from other people too.”
Autism workers have been left gutted after mindless yobs trashed a sensory garden for children.
Staff at Reach Lanarkshire Autism in Cambuslang had spent five months securing funding for the garden and countless hours working alongside volunteers to bring it to fruition.
Youngsters with autism also helped create the sensory garden and spent time making play equipment.
The garden was officially opened at the Reach Lanarkshire Autism building in August, but workers were gutted on Friday morning when they discovered it had been wrecked.
Ellen Feerick, a neighbourhood development and activity co-ordinator with Reach, and colleague Helen Roberts had launched the sensory garden project to give kids with autism a safe, comfortable place to play.
She said: “I’m disgusted at what’s happened. Myself and Helen are gutted because this was our project and so much work was put in from other people too.
“A lot of volunteers helped out and we received many donations. The kids helped us make stuff for the garden and we were really pleased with how it all turned out.
“The project began in March this year and we officially opened the garden at a family fun day on August 11.
“It was a space that wasn’t used before .
The garden is situated in Belmont Drive between the Reach resource centre and Whitlawburn Housing Association offices.
It included raised beds for planting vegatables and herbs, a doll’s house, fun trails, stepping stones, outdoor blackboard, various ornaments, wind chimes, and more.
Of the many items the youngsters enjoyed, most were either smashed up or stolen.
Ellen told the Reformer: “During the summer holidays we were using the garden twice weekly and it also brought parents with kids from outwith the area.
“It was a safe space for kids and it gave parents a facility their children could use without them having to worry. Sometimes it was difficult for them to take their kids to a normal park.
“I don’t know why anyone would want to do this, but we had a problem beforehand too.
“There were originally 10 tyres in the garden and they were stolen gradually. We’ve now been left with three.
“Those tyres are no use to anyone because they were old and donated to us by a garage.”
A Rutherglen police office spokesman confirmed that they are investigating the vandalism.
He added: “Enquiries are ongoing and we would appeal to any members of the public with information on this incident to come forward.”
I don’t know why anyone would want to do this, but we had a problem before Ellen Feerick