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School pupils reap rewards of Duthie Park sensory garden project

Two classes from Ferryhill Primary School will be among the first to view a sensory garden at Aberdeen’s Duthie Park which they helped create.

The idea for the plot, specifically created to be accessible and enjoyable to both disabled and non-disabled visitors, originated during discussions at a Duthie Park Legacy Group meeting. The intention was to fund the project using part of the legacy from the late Lorna Doreen Russell who bequeathed £834,000 to the park. The Friends of Duthie Park secured sponsorship for the plants from local garden centre Ben Reid Garden Centre, however.

Although initial preparation work was carried out during late winter last year by the council’s park and arboricultural staff, it was pupils from Ferryhill Primary School who helped design the garden. The school held a competition and encouraged pupils to come up with ideas for the plot. The design from a primary six class was chosen and ideas for plants suggested by other classes were also included.

The final preparations, before planting, were carried out by the Friends of Duthie Park on the afternoon of Sunday 19 June as part of their monthly gardening activities, to complement the work of park staff. The initial planting of the bed was carried out by the winning Ferryhill Primary School class on Friday 24 June with the Friends of Duthie Park continuing the planting over the summer months. Aberdeen City Council apprentice gardeners completed the project, as part of their training, by laying turf at the sensory garden during the week of 17 October.

Ferryhill Primary School depute head Ruth Legdon said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for the children to get really hands on with a school project and they have thoroughly enjoyed seeing the sensory garden come to life.”

Tony Dawson, chairman of the Friends of Duthie Park group added: “This is an excellent addition to the park and I am sure that anyone who saw what was there before the sensory garden was created would wholeheartedly agree.”

Simon Fraser, managing director of Ben Reid Garden Centre, said: “It was great to be asked to help with the sensory garden project. Being able to contribute to the exciting restoration of Duthie Park was fantastic and to be involved with the local community, both Ferryhill School and the Friends of Duthie Park, was great.”

Pupils from primaries three and seven will visit the sensory bed on Friday 25 November at 1.15pm. They will be joined by representatives from the Friends of Duthie Park and Simon Fraser from sponsor Ben Reid Garden Centre.

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