Creation of our Sensory Garden
The original courtyard garden consisted of a greenhouse, shed and water butt with a small planting area,and flagstone pathways around a lawn.The courtyard 15*9 meters and suffered from water logging problems,students maintained the garden as part of their curriculum work.
The courtyard was the backdrop for scenes from the Redbridge Stage production in 2003.
Shelagh (our former Headteacher) decided the garden needed a complete makeover.Ater consulting with various builders and architects,we realised extra funding was needed to achieve a new garden.
A successfully bid was made to the National Lottery Organization for good causes,and an award of £10,000 was granted.
By Early February 2006 plans had been drawn up, and students staff and parents invited to vote on a design.
Work got underway in April 2006 with the help of the Youth Offending Service.
By Summer 2006 the groundwork and buildings had been cleared ready to lay the French
Drains and waterproof ground covering.Once all the groundwork was completed construction began.
It was summer 2007 before the Garden resembled something like the drawing, and during the Winter and following Spring shrubs and flowers were planted.
On 24th June 2 years from design to finish the Garden was officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, this is the official press release that accompanied the grand opening of the Sensory Garden.
REDBRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL
OFFICAL OPENING OF THE SENSORY GARDEN
Redbridge High School, (a secondary school for pupils aged 11 -19 with severe learning or profound and multiple learning difficulties), welcomes the Lord Mayor to the school on Tuesday 24th June at 10.00Am to officially open the sensory garden.
The garden was developed in conjunction with the Youth Offending Service in Liverpool where a team of young people on reparation orders worked to prepare the garden area under the guidance of a landscape architect. The plans for the garden were drawn up after consultation with the pupils of the school and the funding was raised through a combination of events including staff and pupils running the Liverpool half marathon and a successful Lottery Awards for All bid of £10,000. The young people involved did the preparation work and the final work was completed by a professional company. Staff and pupils have contributed the planting and upkeep of the garden.
The garden is designed to be accessible to all pupils regardless of their disability and to stimulate all the senses!
The project has been a spring board for further collaboration between the school and the Youth Offending Service. Paul Cronin, (Head teacher) says of the project; “we are delighted with the finished product! Our pupils will make tremendous use of the facility and we must compliment the young people who worked on the project for their hard work. We are looking forward to the completion of further projects including an allotment on the school grounds with the Youth Offending Service.”
Councilor Steve Rotheram has visited the school previously in his capacity as Deputy Lord Mayor to celebrate the acquisition of a set of specially adapted bikes for pupils to use in PE and in after school clubs.
Please click on a picture for a larger viewing.
Virtual Garden (wmv 3.3mb)
