By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A bold, imaginative sensory garden is set to bear impressive fruit at Berwick Lodge Primary School.
On a massive 1800-square metre plot, the garden will provide calming touches, sights, smells, tastes and sounds to its visitors.
Once this site was a car park.
In the future, it will be a many-splendoured thing – an outdoor classroom, chess board, bridge, jetty, dry creek bed, water feature, art works and musical instruments.
It will also recognise the endangered helmeted honeyeater bird, which is also part of the school’s logo.
Assistant principal Sandra McCrum said much research had been done into gardens helping students to soften and enhance their senses, or just having “time out”.
“Lots of schools are putting in gardens now. There’s a move away from having hard plastic environments for children.
“It is a new and exciting educational outdoor learning environment, which the school and local community can utilise.”
The all-abilities garden with wheelchair access was designed by school parent Andy Coupar, of Eskape Landscapes.
Just constructed in June, the project makes use of indigenous plants, water-saving techniques and recycled materials.
It has been assisted by grants from City of Casey, RACV and Junior Landcare as well as donated materials and the labour of parents.
It complements the school’s shared community garden built in 2014, but also its award-winning robotics technology program, says Ms McCrum.
“It’s the best of both worlds.”
