Stage One - Trickle Stream Construction
In December the garden area started to be cleared of the undergrowth and some of the scrappy plants in readiness for the installation of the water tanks to run the trickle stream and manage the storm water run off. The water tank supply and installation is being done by Civcon Water Services.
Early January the concrete drain for the base of the stream was constructed and poured in readiness for the rocks to be installed. The concrete work for this project was completed by Paul Taylor.
Then in time for the kids to come back to school the rocks and stream crossings where installed and the pumps all connected so we have a beautiful tickle stream running through the sensory garden area as our main feature.
The rocks and base materials for this project have all been supplied by Hanson - Brandy Hill Quarry at no cost and the timber sleepers for the stream crossings have been supplied again at no cost by Rainbow's End Landscaping Supplies - Thornton.
Stage 2 - Seating, Boat and Construction Zone
Stage 2 of the Sensory Garden construction firstly required the entire area to be cleared. This involved removing all the existing plants and other bits and pieces that where in the area so we had a blank canvas to work with.
The next phase was the construction of seating throughout the garden area. This is both for the children to utilise during break times as well as to enable teachers to bring classes out into the garden for hands on learning in different subjects.
Seating has been constructed using a combination of old pallets and timber decking, throughout the garden area.
Then we installed a boat..great to encourage imaginative play for all ages.
Now we have started the Construction Zone...This area will be filled with softfall where there can be digging, construction and all differnt types of play.
We've also now added some colour to the bottom of the stream area. Beautiful totems in each of the house colours now have pride of place within the garden.
Thanks to all the wonderful plant donations we have received, we've been able to start with some planting in and around the stream area. This will continue to grow and more plants will go in over the coming months.
Stage 3 - Chess & Checkers Board, Cubby and Truck & Marble Area
Over the last few months a number of new and exciting things have been added to the new garden area.
Firstly we have added a great new cubby house, which was kindly donated by Hunter River High, their 2012 construction class built this.
Following this we have had the crew from Bunnings - Maitland come and complete a significant amount of work in the garden area. They have constructed boarder garden beds along paths, as well as the plants and mulch for these gardens. They also supplied 2 raised garden beds for vegies and herbs.
Bunnings have since returned to the school and completed their part of the project which was a fabulous outdoor Chess & Checkers Board.
Huge thanks to Bunnings for all of their time and the wonderful work they have done in the Garden.
The most recent work in the garden has been to bring in some ground cover. In front of all the bench seating we have installed some beautiful pavers in natural colours to help make the area functional.
There has also been the addition of a gravel area with a huge rock snake, for the kids to use as seating and to play with trucks, cars, marbles or whatever they can imagine!
We would like to thank everyone who has been involved in this project so far. the support and donations of product, resources and time has been wonderful!
Stage 4 - Ground Cover
So we are getting closer to the end of this huge project...Over the holidays there has been a lot of work completed, including; ground cover and clean up.
We now have beautifully top dressed grounds and edging around the pavers with gravel donated by Boral Concrete.
Thank you to the P&C and other families who have worked so tirelessly to make this great Garden Area a reality for the children.
Stage 5 - Finishing Touches
Over the next week the final finishing touches will be added and a few little bits and pieces finshed off around the garden area.
There are some artworks for the shed walls that will come over the remainder of the year and a few other beautification items that the P&C will finalise.
