Severndale Specialist School Garden Project
As a large local business, Lanyon Bowdler believes in supporting local charities in a variety of ways such as ‘dress down days’ and ‘charity cake bakes’. But last year the firm did something a bit different. By working with Headway Shropshire and award winning garden designer Mike Russell, Lanyon Bowdler entered a show garden at Shrewsbury Flower Show, and as a result picked up one of Shropshire Horticultural Society’s Gold Medals together with the Mike Hough Memorial Trophy for Best Outdoor Garden. Needless to say the challenge is on for this year!
Two local charities are recognised by the firm each year, one of the chosen charities for the current year is Severndale Specialist School, located on the new Monkmoor Campus in Shrewsbury. So it may come as little surprise that this year’s garden is going to be very child friendly and suitable for those with disabilities.
With a perfect spot already identified, the garden will be installed in the school after the show. Once back at the school, the pupils and staff will be able to continue to build on the theme and enjoy a thoroughly interactive, safe and sensory space.
This year’s theme is ‘a seaside garden’, complete with driftwood, shells and coastal plants. The centre piece will be a customised sailing boat - accessible to all, including wheelchair users. A canopy above the boat will offer shelter from the sun (and rain!), plus an interactive Velcro backdrop will feature sea-life shapes all created by the pupils at Severndale Specialist School.
Speaking on behalf of the school, Assistant Head Teacher Garry Dean said “we were delighted when Lanyon Bowdler approached us, apart from giving many of the pupils an opportunity to be part of an inspiring project, we are all going to benefit from what is currently quite a bleak enclosed space, being transformed into a seaside wonderland.”