We have partnered with The Orchard School, Oldbury to build a sensory garden Ann-Marie Powell would be proud of.

The Sandwell based school is a leading education provider for children aged between 2 years to 11 years and with complex and profound learning difficulties, including: severe autism, complex medical conditions, physical and mobility difficulties, as well as severe developmental delay.

We were initially invited to donate topsoil for the ambitious garden scheme, but after a site visit by Patrick and Daniel Lambe, the grandchildren of company founder, Mick Lambe, the decision was made to donate all services required to bring the design to life.

Daniel Lambe, Contracts Manager, said: “What struck me the most, was the staff dedication and commitment. It was very obvious that a lot of hard work is put in by the team to ensure each child’s needs are catered for and that their quality of life is enriched through education. It really wasn’t a difficult decision to help out.”

The garden, the brainchild of Steve Hall, gardener at The Orchard School, has been designed around three themes, including: a wildlife area with a bird feeding station, bug hotel and outdoor learning area; vegetable garden with 20 mini gardens – 1 for each class, central trellised area to grow peas and beans, large border for growing wheat and a strawberry theatre, with the third theme, an orchard, made up of 3 rows of fruit bushes: raspberries, blackberries and plums.

Each zone will ensure there is an experience available that reflects each pupils own individual learning styles and needs.

Daniel, added: “It really is an honour to get behind the school and provide the children with a fantastic outdoor learning experience. The staff are truly amazing and a real inspiration to us all.”