Situated between the main children’s play area and the aviaries are six brick planters. These were overgrown and of little interest to visitors. FoP Green Space Volunteers suggested to CBC last year that these could be cleared and a sensory garden that would be fun and provide an interest for children and families be created. They agreed and good progress has been made on several elements of the sensory garden.
The GSVs cleared the beds last year and covered them with black plastic to help kill off the weeds. At a recent working party compost was dug into the beds, which are now ready for planting. It is proposed that each bed represents a sense: taste, smell, sound (the two centre beds), touch and sight. Planting plans have been made for the beds and the plants ordered, the plan being to plant out the beds in April.
The existing seating between the beds will be removed and used in another park. There are three sponsors and possibly a fourth for the commemorative metal benches, in a similar style to those in the east side of the park, but they will be in similar colours to those used in the play area. It is also intended to build a semi-circle of concrete block seats for groups to sit and chat. To help make it fun for children, cartoon signs for the senses will be added to the beds. The senses will also be represented by a sculpture at the front of the beds.
The Cheltenham branch of Men in Sheds has kindly volunteered to make two bug hotels for the two centre beds, hopefully to encourage some sound from the insects. More cycle racks are needed in the park and it is hoped some can be procured for the entrance to the play area, perhaps coloured and in interesting shapes.
FoP have received a Community Infrastructure Levy grant from CBC, a generous donation from a FoP member and FoP have also donated funds. A further grant is being sought to cover the cost of the sculpture. The beds are surrounded by good paving suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. FoP have talked to Aim Up, Insight, the local Scouts and Dunalley School, who support the scheme and will hopefully do some of the planting.
Author: Chris Archibald