John Walsh is hoping to develop a sensory garden for pupils and parishioners

Outdoor space and making the most of our natural surroundings has never been more important. At a school, a sensory garden encourages pupils to explore and interact with the environment and provides a fun educational space. It incorporates areas that are both stimulating and relaxing.

That's the message Ballybofey man, John Walsh, want to get across to the pupils at Sessiaghoneill National School.

A keen horticulturist, John has embarked on a programme to develop a sensory garden at his former school so he can pass on his love of the natural world while helping the entire school community enjoy what's around them.

"The sensory gardens improve physical fitness, health, mood and cognition. Gardening and plant care help children develop gross and fine motor skills. Time outdoors, breathing fresh air, and being exposed to sunlight is extremely beneficial to the children's overall physical health," he says.

The new space behind the school on the outskirts of Ballybofey is currently being designed by John and John Gallinagh of Finn Valley Nursery, Backleas, Stranorlar to help offer a calming space for pupils, who have a range of social, emotional and mental health needs.

John had steered the development of the Twin Towns Community Gardens project for a number of years and was looking for a new challenge when he got talking to Sean O'Kane of the County Donegal Parents and Friends of People with Intellectual Disability. That charity had been of great support to him in the past and when they discovered he was continuing his work for children with disabilities, they offered him a fund of €2,500 to work with.

He then talked to school principal Anne Marie Griffin who said they would welcome such a project for their school community, particularly those who had challenges in this area.

“Pupils will benefit educationally as well as socially, and will learn where food comes from and how plants grow,” John said.  “The social element of a garden is particularly important owing to the special nature of our student population.”

John is now looking to see how best the funding can deliver and is open to local businesses to spare any supplies they may no longer need to create this special garden for the pupils.  

He is aiming to have the sensory area ablaze with colour, and distinctive smells while at the same time offering a quiet place full of different textures and scents.  

John Walsh at the site set aside for the new sensory garden

“We’re looking for offcuts of plants – flowers and vegetables – maybe some compost, wood, trellis, even seats.  I've already secured several large flower containers from Vincent Sharkey from Crossroads.

Special Place

"Ideally we’d also like to create a water feature of some kind.  We know local businesses are constantly turning over their stock, and maybe having a clear out. If they, or anyone else, has anything they don’t want, and think it might help us create a really special place, we would love to hear from them.”

Work is expected to start in the coming weeks with weeding, bush and tree trimming as well as drawing up plans for areas to increase light and colour.

"We hope to erect a sign and refurbish some of the bench and seating areas already in place. I'm also talking with Rockwell Ornaments Drumfries, Clonmany as they have a great range of garden furniture, some of which I have used in the past in the Twin Towns Community Garden in Ballybofey. We never had too much in the way of facilities when I was at school here so it's nice to be able to assist the young pupils of today in a positive and meaningful way. We used this part of the school grounds as a slide and a football field or whatever we needed it to be so transforming it into a sensory garden is a nice step forward."

Principal Ms Griffin said she was delighted with the project.

"This project will be great and unique. It will further enhance what we already have, particularly the 'Wishing Chair' sculpture while the new plants and other sensory items will not only benefit those with intellectual challenges but anyone in the parish and wider school community," she said.

Sensory gardens can offer a hugely rewarding environment for children and adults and John is hoping  the work at the school  will also stimulate their imagination and help them benefit educationally as well as socially,

“The social element of a garden is particularly important owing to the special nature of our student population but this is a project open to all," he adds.