Serenity Garden

THE PROJECT:

In 2024 we will be launching our Serenity Garden project which aims to complete by Spring 2025! The Serenity Garden will use an existing unused field onsite. This project aims to transform the field into a multi-use space that welcomes the community, commemorates the lives of animals, and increases the biodiversity of this area and encourages wildlife and habitat creation for many species. It will use native planting as an environmentally friendly way of paying tribute to lost beloved animals. At its core, this is a community and environmental project with animal welfare at the heart.

OUR SERENITY GARDEN AIMS TO:

• Become a space for staff and residents to enjoy and use.
• Invite the public and community groups to visit and engage with the garden.
• Create a new and enriching exercise space for our animals and visitors' pets alike. 
• Create biodiversity within the grounds by planting shrubs and trees to attract and regenerate endangered species. To also include a soft release area for hedgehogs.
• Encourage a sustainable feeding cycle for our shelter by implementing a range of shrubs and plants that can be used to provide organic food or sensory enrichment for our animals.
• Increase awareness about the important work that the shelter does locally and nationally.
• Initiate a 'Serene Team' to benefit the local community by gathering groups of people who regularly meet to maintain the site, plant new additions and have a common sense of purpose.
• Be an inclusive space .

FUNDING SCOPE:

We are an independent and almost entirely self-funded branch of the RSPCA. Animal rescue, welfare, and rehoming is our main purpose therefore, we feel it is important to highlight that the Serenity Garden is an independently funded project in its own right, and separate fundraising work will continue as usual to ensure our animals and shelter remains supported.

WHAT WE NEED AND WHY:

We have very impressive plans drawn up ready to go and landscapers appointed*. We just need funding to turn this incredible project into a reality to begin benefiting animals, communities, the environment and wildlife. Little Valley has some pump priming set aside to get this project going however, we are seeking public donations and corporate sponsors to see us through to completion. Our fundraising target through CrowdFunder (along with our pump priming) will ensure the following areas are completed in 2024:

• Site clearance and preparation 
• All ground and form works (pond, paths and banks)
• Hardscaping (Hoggin path)
• Carpentry (Sleeper steps, fencing, gates, soft release area, benches, memorial board)

Future funding and donations will complete the soft-scaping and add the finishing touches such as memorial tree, picnic benches, log seats and additional planting of flowers and shrubs.

Thank you for your support, we hope to see you at the Serenity Garden soon!

*HUGE thank you to Urban Earth who are our appointed contractor for this project and to Liz Evans who is our landscape designer. These partners have played a key part in making this project come to life!