Best Futures Sensory Garden Open Event

On a sunny Friday afternoon in July, we celebrated the official opening of the Best Futures Sensory Garden.

We started off with a tour around the school led by Dawn and Rose Best. Many of the guests had heard about the positive work we do in our small countryside setting, but few had seen it in person, exploring the classrooms, garden and chatting with the teachers to find out what it’s really like here on an ordinary day.

Following the tour, Patricia Spilman officially opened the sensory garden, cutting the ribbons and sharing a few thoughtful words on the benefits of nature for learning.

Guests included members from the Everyman Club, Grimsby Rotary Club and the Alan Boswell Group Charitable Trust who were happy to get involved with helping to plant some flowers and herbs in the newly installed wooden planters.

Earlier that morning, there had been a family session of planting some of the flowers and herbs as an activity for parents and pupils to enjoy as part of their end of term Parental Engagement Day. So, by the afternoon, there was a gentle stream of butterflies, dragonflies, bees and ladybirds among the resident grasshoppers enjoying the new arrivals of lavender, hydrangea and geraniums. Delicious smelling herbs like basil, uniquely purple dark opal basil, and parsley of different varieties offered a delightful aroma. It was a truly delightful afternoon and a memorable way to open the garden, of which we are excited to watch it grow and evolve.

We’ve had tremendous support from local organisations, some of which couldn't attend sadly, but would love to come and visit the garden later in the year. Generous donations from Singleton Birch, Humber Gateway Fund and Cyden Homes contributed to the costing for the garden to get started, which we are so grateful for.

We are looking forward to next season, embedding the sensory garden further into our school curriculum, embracing all seasons in our wonderful nature area.