Long Stratton school’s gardening project boost

A school's environmental project to build a sensory garden has been given a funding boost by a developer.

St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy in Long Stratton have been handed £150 by Taylor Wimpey East Anglia for the garden, which may be planted in the spring.

As well as a wide variety of plants and flowers, the school hopes the new area will feature a summer house and a pond.

Headteacher Alison Cullum said: 'We are really trying to create somewhere that can bring the community together. Somewhere that's a bit of a nicer environment than a cold village hall.

'It's not just the children at the school who will benefit from the project. Mayfields Dementia Care Unit is based next to us. We would like the residents to enjoy the garden – whether that is by planting or just enjoying being surrounded by familiar sights and smells. Hopefully by engaging the senses we can help jog some old memories for them.

'We also have a Break Respite Care unit over the road, for people with disabilities, who will enjoy visiting. The most important thing and possibly the biggest challenge for us is making sure that the garden is fully accessible to all.'

'We have reached about a quarter of our overall target, which means that we can now look into what we are able to start while still fundraising for the rest.

We will do the clearance work and some planting so that hopefully the first flower beds start to bloom in the summer.'

'We've been working with Taylor Wimpey since they started building at Tharston Meadow. The children were very interested and excited about the site – we have taken part in Walk to School Month and the children made some 'Welcome to your new home' cards for the first residents moving into the development.

'We'd just like to say a big thank you to Taylor Wimpey for their support, we really appreciate it – and we look forward to growing with them as their development progresses.'