PUPILS at Ballynahinch Primary School and Nursery Unit are enjoying a revitalised outdoor play area, thanks to a partnership between Ballynahinch Men’s Shed and the Housing Executive.
Members of the Men’s Shed transformed the school’s underused walled garden, designing and building a wooden pergola and round picnic table for pupils to enjoy, and covering a steep slope with vibrant raised beds.
The project was funded by the Housing Executive through a £5,000 Community Grant.
John Anderson, principal at Ballynahinch Primary School, said: “Spending time outdoors is an important way to support children’s wellbeing and resilience.
“Thanks to the hard work of the Men’s Shed over the last year and support from the Housing Executive and Ballynahinch Community Collective, families are more connected to each other, with opportunities to learn about food through our grow your own workshops.
“Building on our previous environmental work, such as forest school and tree planting, our sensory garden will be a welcoming space for the people of Ballynahinch for years to come.”
With a new polytunnel in the school grounds, students and parents are learning how to grow fruit, vegetables and herbs.
Ballynahinch Community Collective volunteers are helping maintain the garden and have assisted children to grow strawberries, lupins and oregano to sell at the school’s summer fair.
With support from the Housing Executive, work was also carried out to restore the school’s pond.
Gareth Morgan, team leader at the Housing Executive, said: “This has been a really positive project to support, and it’s great to see the space now being enjoyed by the school and local families.
“We’re very grateful to the volunteers who have put in so much time and effort to bring the garden to life.”
Karl Stafford, chair of Ballynahinch Men’s Shed, added: “We’re delighted that the new sensory garden is providing a safe outdoor space for children in the community to play and learn together.
“It’s been a fantastic partnership and we’re really pleased to have delivered something positive for families in Ballynahinch.”
