Radipole Sensory Garden
The Sensory garden, like a lot of projects, took a long time in coming.
Radipole park and gardens 2023
It was part of our Lottery submission, which included a match-funding project.
We set our target at £10,000.
By the time of the panel’s positive decision and award, over a very long and tortuous 8 years, The Friends of Radipole Park & Gardens raised a whopping £26,000, through various means, from events, talks and plant sales to generous donations and applying for grants.
The year 2024 was time for boots on the ground.
The year 2024 was also one of the wettest winters on record!
Our first foray onto the construction site, based next to the cafe and new sport and leisure facilities, was to navigate mountains of thick clay excavated, wade through ankle deep muddy water, stumble over boulders and rubble all whilst keeping an eye open for moving machinery.
Not for the faint hearted.
Slowly but surely, the FORPAG team with help of volunteers, the garden began to take shape.
Raised beds constructed from wooden Lego-styled bricks, included many head-scratching moments.
I rued the day I said how hard can it be!
Arches and arbours added, a now much used gazebo, placed in a shady corner.
When time arrived to getting the plants in, we were lucky enough to have a very enthusiastic crew from our local PGL come along, as fast as we could place pots on the ground, so they were planted. Over a couple of days, the main planting was done.
Even our grand opening day was scuppered by wet weather.
Finally, Saturday 10th August, the ribbon cutting took place, the area heaving, every area of sporting equipment busy, music in the sensory garden, cafe up and running.
We’d made it!
It’s now maintained by the FORPAG team and our volunteers.
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