Pollinating Perceptions - Sensory Wildlife Garden

Aim

Heathlands is raising money for the creation of a sensory wildlife garden, to promote & support nature and our beneficiaries wellbeing.

Heathlands is a person centred community and day service for adults with learning & physical disabilities, ABI & autism. Based in the North of Cumbria on 8.5acres of ex farmland, we strive to offer a meaningful range of both holistic, ability enabling & supporting activities, to promote the health & wellbeing of our beneficiaries. 

Heathlands is seeking £2000 for the completion of a wildlife sensory garden. 

Our proposal is to transform a 160sqm area between our conservatory and log cabin that is currently disused through site redevelopment. This work has already been part funded by Natural England and Gleeson Homes, and because of this our hard landscaping is complete!

So, why so we need your help?

Simply put we need to plants!

We are seeking funding to purchase the proposed planting scheme outlined below, which will include seeds for beneficiaries to grow. We also intend to install a tactile water feature for our beneficiaries and to serve as a water bath for birds.

It is well documented that connecting with nature can have a positive impact on people’s wellbeing. The proposed garden will comprise of native wildflowers, plants, shrubs and trees, disabled access pathways, sensory lawns, seating, a tactile accessible height water feature and bird feeding station with camera. The planting will be a mixture of perennial and annual, allowing for direct interaction from beneficiaries year on year, this will promote direct inclusion into the garden.

The proposed garden will offer our vulnerable and disabled beneficiaries good access to be able to connect with nature, while supporting the activity of our partner organisations.

The space will also provide a valuable holistic teaching environment that will show conservation and species promotion in action. 

Direct beneficiaries from Heathlands will number around 70.

There will be 30 indirect beneficiaries per/week through community gardens, veterans & beekeepers

This project successfully funded on 16th June 2023