Cambourne primary school sensory garden donation for Vine

McCarthy Stone, the developer behind Uplands Place on High Street, has donated £500 to The Vine Inter-Church Primary School to help bring the much-needed outdoor area to life.

Set to open its space to pupils in late summer 2024, homeowners and staff from the retirement housebuilder joined children and staff at the school on The Vines for a glimpse of the sensory space as it nears completion, where they presented a cheque for the donation.

Construction of the sensory garden at The Vine Inter-Church Primary School first began in 2022, with the hard landscaping now complete.

The next phase of the project will see the school focus on the planting and soft landscaping, as it introduces colour, shape, and movement through a range of trees, shrubbery, and fresh blooms.

This includes camomile, honeysuckle, buddleia, and Japanese Red Maple, a small, slow growing shrub with deep reddish-purple leaves and vibrant red fruits.

The cash boost will help to ensure the school can complete work on the outdoor area, which will also feature a living archway to support climbing plants, a water feature providing soothing sounds, seating areas, a pathway leading towards the surrounding woodland, and a gazebo for outdoor classes.

Mr Hynes, headteacher at The Vines Inter-Church Primary School, said: “We first discussed having a sensory garden more than a decade ago, so it’s fantastic to finally see that vision come to life.

“The space will contribute massively to the children’s learning experience, not least their overall wellbeing.

“We have a lot of pupils with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs; therefore, a sensory garden is an excellent way to introduce a sense of calm and stimulate the senses without feeling overwhelmed by them.

“We want to thank McCarthy Stone for their generous donation, which means we can make sure the garden will be completed on time for pupils to start enjoying.”