Staff and students were delighted to welcome Becci Forsyth, ASDA Hereford’s Community Champion, who visited the College earlier this month to see how the grant of £810 had been spent.
At RNC students are given the opportunity to develop social confidence and have new experiences that support personal development outside the classroom and engage in interests that are not central to their chosen courses. Gardening is one of those activities.
A project to create a sensory garden is underway, the groundworks have been completed and seating put in place, with lavender, roses and scented shrubs being planted in the spring.
Students will be involved in the planting and care of this garden and the grant received from ASDA Hereford has provided height adjustable work benches for the polytunnels in the College’s working garden. The accessible new benches can be lowered for wheelchair users and when not in use, can be stored upright.
In the working garden students have the chance to sow seeds, take cuttings and plant bulbs using hand tools and they regularly hold public plant sales during the year which gives them the opportunity to try out their customer service skills and handle money.
Nicola Smith, RNC’s Director of Learning and curriculum, said:
‘We were thrilled to meet Becci to say thank you for the grant, to show off the new benches and to demonstrate the far-reaching impact a donation like this can make. Since Becci’s visit, the benches in the polytunnels have already been well used with Geranium cuttings taken and Hyacinth bulbs planted and we look forward to inviting her back to enjoy our sensory garden when it opens in the spring.’
The photo below shows Becci leaning on one of the new accessible work benches and it's all smiles from the students as they look forward to getting started on their gardening projects
Pictured are: Left - Becci Forsyth Back row L-R: Callum, Dylan and Jo Front row L-R: Libby, Bethany and Guoguo