Lawyers ‘dig deep’ for school sensory project
Solicitors from a Wolverhampton law firm swapped their office for the outdoors in a project to overhaul a city school’s sensory garden.
A team of 12 staff from FBC Manby Bowdler teamed up with Worcestershire firm Whiting Landscape to replant the outdoor space at Castlecroft Primary School in Windmill Crescent.
The project has special significance as the school is a resource base for visually impaired children.
Whiting Landscape provided the landscaping equipment, plants and specialist advice on site while lawyers, paralegals and support staff from the law firm donated their time, spending two days at the school working on the garden.
The work included significant clearing of the site, redesign and replanting of all the beds. A further follow up day is to follow for the painting of benches and outdoor seating.
Head Teacher Andy Dyall said: “I cannot thank the team from FBC Manby Bowdler enough for transforming our sensory garden into a usable space that the children and staff will enjoy using once the weather warms up again.
“Unfortunately the garden had become overgrown and was such a big project it was in danger of becoming a forgotten space which, in times of financial hardship, was unlikely to be prioritised for action. Providing quiet areas during playtime and lunchtime for our children, especially those with mobility needs, is vital and we are already planning to use the garden for picnics with our classes once spring arrives.”
“They have provided us with a great starting point to redevelop the rest of our junior playground. We have already started fundraising and have included the children in deciding how we can make it into a more exciting space.”
Lawyer Sophie-Ann Bridges, who co-ordinated the volunteering, said: “We were delighted to be able to help and make such a difference in the short time we were at the school. It was certainly very different to our normal day at work but very rewarding to be outside and supporting such an important worthwhile project in our own community.”