Growing Together - Garden Project Spans the Generations

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Family members get together to design and create sensory garden

Grandparents and children are getting together to design and create a sensory garden at White City Play Project, in Canada Way.

The aim is for the older and younger generations to share views and life experiences while revamping a corner of the current garden with sensory plants, pots and other special features such as sculptures.

Older people from the community, especially grandparents of children who attend the play project, were invited to launch the garden scheme at a barbecue for local children and families.

Children have been creating artwork, including flowers made from polystyrene, and designs for decorative panels, tables, chairs and benches. The aim is to transform a corner of the play project's outdoor space and encourage the children to share views and experiences with their elders.

H&F Council's play service is working with the charity Grandparents Plus and specialist arts organisation Magic Me on the project, which is funded by John Lyon's Charity.

Lynn Bean, co-director of the charity Grandparents Plus, said, "The children wanted to create a garden. We would like to encourage them to grow vegetables and herbs there and use them in cooking. We have also been developing artwork such as sculptures which could be put in the garden.
The aim is to foster understanding between the generations. Children invited their grandparents to attend the event and to put their suggestions for the garden on paper leaves to hang on a wooden 'wishing tree' at the centre."

The garden plan is due to get under way in September and continue until May and June 2008.

Cllr Antony Lillis, cabinet member for children's services, said, "This is a great way to get young and older people working together on a project which will enhance the play project and the lives and well-being of the children who attend. It also helps children and older people to find out more about each other's lives."

July 20, 2007