There are play parks and plenty of outdoor activities to choose from in Harrogate for most children. However, children and young people with special needs can often only sit and watch. They may be physically unable to join in or for some the great outdoors is dangerous, frightening or just not very interesting! These kids tend to see the world differently to most of us. They may be over sensitive to certain stimuli and under sensitive to others. Wouldn't it be amazing if they could have a garden specifically designed for their needs and interests, a safe outdoor place where they can really get involved?

My 10 year old son George suffers from severe learning disabilities. He loves to go out and about but he has no concept of danger and his mobility is limited. He loves to explore textures of different materials, running his hands over things with deep concentration and often putting things in his mouth. Along with many other disabled kids from across the district aged 8 - 18, George goes for respite breaks at Nidd House, the Nidderdale Children's Resource Centre in Killinghall.

I run Yorkshire Garden Designs whose projects have included designing the recently developed garden at Southlands Nursing Home. I strongly believe in the therapeutic benefits of gardens for all ages and abilities. Nidd House has extensive grounds and it would be the perfect location for an interactive sensory garden. The garden will be easily accessible for wheelchair users and full of opportunities to interact with plants, soil, water, wildlife and outdoor materials, promoting learning, physical fitness and self confidence.

Yorkshire Garden Designs will create a visionary show garden at Harrogate Spring Flower Show 2016 with sponsorship in the form of donated materials and manpower from GH Brooks, Knox Sawmills, REMAP, Hacs, Yorkshire GroundForce. We now need to fundraise up to £5000 to enable us to reconstruct the garden at Nidd House. Nidd House is run by North Yorkshire County Council who are unable to offer any funding for such a project.

Every little helps: please pledge on my crowdfunding page by 20/11/15 at

https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/lorna-batchelor

The council is making service cuts to our local disabled chidlren. Click here for more info.  Let's support our local community - maybe you can volunteer or help in other ways?

Lorna Batchelor, Garden Designer

www.yorkshiregardendesigns.co.uk
info@yorkshiregardendesigns.co.uk
01423 331778
07739 250605