A new sensory garden designed to help those with mental health issues and learning disabilities has opened at the Goldenhill Community Centre in Stoke-on-Trent.
It was designed by Malcolm Saul who works for the Green Styling Company. Saul is the grandson of Fred Loads MBE, a founding member of the long-running Gardeners’ Question Time broadcast by BBC Radio since 1947.
The sensory garden features a range of plants that change with the season. It will be accessible during the community centre’s opening hours to be used by anyone who needs it.
Just Family, a community interest company based at the centre, came up with the idea to install the garden.
The secretary of the Sandyford and Goldenhill Residents Association (SAGE), Tom Simpson, then contacted JLB (Property Maintenance) and RMG (Residential Management Group) who both agreed to fund the project.
Paul Boddington of JLB stated: “It’s an honour and a privilege really to jointly fund this. It’s fabulous and far exceeded expectations, it looks really, really great.”
Iolanda Serrao Cox of RGM stated: “When Tom approached us to have a little look at the local community hall to see whether we could help with a project to create a sensory garden here at the centre, to support the Just Family charity for use by the local community. It was a no-brainer to RMG to support this project.”
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