St Mary and St Michael opens sensory garden
A PRIMARY school has transformed an unused outside space into a sensory garden to be used by its pupils.
St Mary and St Michael officially opened the garden at a school assembly where it was blessed by Deacon Mark Leightley after a week-long building process that was carried out by Swift Gardening owner Tom Thompson-Swift, who is a parent of a pupil.
It was done over the February half-term and the garden now contains plants, flowers, herbs, trees and a water fountain.
‘It brings something for all the senses that the pupils can use for a wide variety of reasons,’ said deputy head teacher Alex Mercer.
‘We can bring reading groups out here or if a child needs some quiet time they can come to the garden.’
The project was supported, by Skipton International, the Saffrey Rotary Walk, Condor Ferries, Channel Islands Co-operative and Guernsey Electricity who gave a combined total of £500.
Co-op community and sustainability officer Fiona Murphy said it was an easy decision to say yes when asked by the school.
‘The money comes from our community fund and the project aligns with our values, it’s a great opportunity for the kids,’ she said.
‘You just need to look at it and see how fantastic it is, the kids can come, relax and engage with everything around them,’ said Christian Lacey-Brennan, head of stakeholder engagement at Guernsey Electricity.
The garden was the idea of the school’s headteacher Helen Willetts along with its PTFA.
