Over the past few weeks the Life Skills Hub has been working hard in the sensory garden, located next to the Trevelyan building on Newcastle College's Rye Hill Campus. A regular gardening club with around 12 members have been meeting in the garden regularly to transform it back to the tranquil, pleasant space it was before the pandemic.
Some great ideas have been put forward on how the sensory garden can be further improved, including a wildlife pond and bug hotel, and growing fruit, vegetables and herbs to use in cookery sessions. One of the ideas put forward was to include a mural painted on the walls which was designed by a Digital Design student as part of their coursework, with the help of staff member Andrew doing the painting.
The students and staff involved are enjoying nurturing the garden, sharing ideas, making new friends, and getting out and active in the fresh air - all of which can have a positive impact on physical and mental health and wellbeing.