Member Article

Plans to create musical sensory garden take root

Plans to create a new musical sensory garden for junior and senior members of Snappy – the Special Needs Activities and Play Provision for York – have started to take root, thanks to the support of local development company S Harrison.

The firm has provided funding to Snappy, which is located at the charity’s base on Lowther Street, and worked with Brunswick Organic Nursery - a sheltered workplace for people with learning difficulties – to deliver the first stage of the project.

Ann Scott, managing director at S Harrison, says: “We have provided support to Brunswick Organic Nursery in the past and they have a wealth of experience in designing and creating sensory gardens. We also have an ongoing relationship with Snappy, and thought it would be the ideal partnership.

“Our business provided the money for the materials needed for the planter boxes, top soil and compost and the Brunswick Organic Nursery team came to build them. The whole thing looks great and will no doubt be enjoyed by lots of people who attend Snappy.”

Anne Stamp, Service Manager at Snappy says: “When the group from Brunswick Organic Nursery turned up to build the garden it was an absolute delight to see that some of them used to attend Snappy.

“We are so grateful for the support from S Harrison and Brunswick Organic Nursery, and we are now appealing for donations of instruments, plants, tools and a shed to house all of the materials we need to maintain the garden.

“The large raised planter box will be used by the older members of Snappy to grow vegetables and the smaller mobile planter box is ideal for the younger members who will be able to access the plants easily, even in wheelchairs. We will use the garden all year round as part of numerous education topics on everything from healthy food, to how to use your senses to identify objects.”

Geoff Freeston, Garden Services Manager at Brunswick says: “We really enjoy these kind of projects where we are encouraging other people to get involved with gardening, and the team were delighted to come and help Snappy.”

Snappy provides social and recreational opportunities for children and young people with special needs in the York area, who are aged between 5 and 25. Senior Snappy is a club for young people aged 15 to 25 who take part in social nights, activities and workshops that focus on key day to day life skills. In total, Snappy works with almost 300 children, young people and young adults in the York area.

Brunswick Organic Nursery, which is based in Bishopthorpe, offers supported work opportunities in horticulture, crafts, cooking, office administration and gardening services. They sell their products in a shop and also run a weekend café.

For further information about Snappy and its work visit www.snappyyork.co.uk or for details on Brunswick Organic Nursery visit www.brunswickyork.org.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Emma Mortimer .