Green shoots sprouting at Winch school garden

WINCHELSEA pupils have got their hands dirty to help plant a new sensory garden for the school and local community.

More than 120 Winchelsea Primary School (WPS) pupils helped Jan Juc landscape gardeners plant a host of native trees and shrubs for the garden last week

Sensory gardens are designed as therapeutic areas using plants that stimulate a range of senses to boost physical and mental well being.

The school expects the garden to provide a calming space for pupils to use as required while boosting teachers’ social and emotional learning curriculum.

The school began investigating a sensory garden with students and staff in 2018 and received a $50,000 COVID Recovery Assistance Grant from the Surf Coast Shire to accelerate its plan. WPS has also contributed more than $40,000 to the project in fundraising cash and in-kind donations.

The space will be available to early learning service providers on request and the wider Winchelsea community outside of school hours.

WPS will host a formal opening of the garden early in term three.

School principal Simon O’Brien said he was excited to soon welcome the school community and Winchelsea to the space.

“The school has always been a hub for connecting with and working with various community groups and the township of Winchelsea are really invested in the education of the children at the school,” Mr O’Brien said.

“The sensory garden provides us with the space to promote and teach positive physical, social, and emotional health but also allows us to have a space where students and staff can work together to meet individual student regulation needs.

“Once officially opened we expect a range of groups within the community to utilise the space and this will be actively promoted and encouraged.”