Paving slabs replaced in Bridge Street as part of the city centre regeneration works have been donated to Middleton Primary School in order to create a new sensory garden for pupils.

The new garden will be unveiled tomorrow, Wednesday 10 July 2013.

Middleton Primary in Bretton is the first of five schools to benefit from a donation of paving slabs by Peterborough City Council and its contractor Ringway. As part of the regeneration works in Bridge Street, new paving has been installed along the length of the street.

Pupils Jiya John and Freya Slack came up with the design for the new sensory garden after winning a school competition. They will officially open the new sensory garden with their Headteacher Kathy McDermott.

Advice provided by the Wildlife Trust on the plants that would offer the best visual and audio stimulation for the children was given as part of the Go Wild! project supported by the Caterpillar Foundation. The project has enabled the Wildlife Trust to ensure Peterborough’s communities have the opportunity to enjoy the wildlife on their doorsteps through a variety of ways including family events like this one.


Volunteers from the community and insurance company BGL Group also pitched in to help create the garden and representatives from Ringway laid the donated paving slabs. Parents and pupils were then asked to bring along plants which could be planted in the garden.

Pamela Rodgers, Key Stage 2 leader at Middleton Primary School, said the garden was only completed last Thursday, however the children were already looking forward to spending time in the garden before the end of term.

Mrs Rodgers said: "The children are all really excited about using the garden, especially now we're having such lovely weather.

"Some of our pupils have hearing impediments and other disabilities so it will be a fantastic learning environment for them and all of our pupils – it certainly beats sitting in the classroom! The children will get a lot of use out of the garden as there are so many lessons that it will support - science, literacy, storytelling and poetry to name just a few.

"I'd like to thank everyone who has pitched in to make our dreams of a sensory garden a reality. Without their kindness and support it would never have been possible."

(CD/MH)