Sensory garden helping children to blossom
A sensory garden packed with flowers and vegetables is helping children to blossom at a Shropshire primary school, say the staff and pupils who help maintain it.
And the specially designed multi-sensory environment – created at Radbrook Primary School in Shrewsbury – has now captured the imagination of both the town’s MP and a pioneering eco-friendly compost provider.
“This lovely garden helps to build our children’s confidence, encouraging them to ask questions,” said the After-School Club Manager Lorraine Fletcher.
“It’s much more than just a space – it’s a powerful learning environment that nurtures well-being, development, confidence and joy. Our garden enhances focus, attention, and encourages teamwork. We work together in a beautiful calm way – as a group.”
It was during a recent visit to the school to deliver an assembly that Shrewsbury MP Julia Buckley found herself fascinated to hear about the garden which is primarily for children with special educational needs.
Mrs Buckley, a long-time champion of special educational needs provision, said: “I was very excited to hear about this extraordinary garden and wanted to help. So when I also visited local sustainability business Agripost and saw the high-quality compost they made from green and food waste, it seemed like a match made in heaven.
“So I contacted Agripost, a family-run firm based at Lower House Farm at Cardeston near Shrewsbury, and its sister company Carbon Earth, and asked whether they might consider donating some compost to help the garden, and was thrilled to bring the two together and witness the impact of their generous donation.”
Director of Carbon Earth, Rachel Gethin, said: “As a local farming family business, we are delighted to support Radbrook Primary School and their fantastic initiative to create a SEND garden for their students. We have supplied our PAS100-certified compost, which is produced locally just outside of Shrewsbury. This garden will offer a therapeutic, sensory-rich outdoor space for children to enjoy, and we are very proud to be part of such a meaningful project.”
Mrs Fletcher added: “It was around about October 2025, our fabulous headteacher Emma Thelwell asked if anyone wanted to give the school garden some time and some love. I decided – with the help of the children – to take on this task. Emma has really worked her magic all around the school, a very inspiring lady, and someone who has certainly inspired myself to get stuck into big gardening projects.
“The beautiful garden is now maintained by myself and the fabulous children I work with every day in groups. Seeing the children enjoy it, and seeing them transform totally is just magnificent.
“We are thrilled with the support we are receiving from Julia Buckley and from Carbon Earth.”
Meanwhile, the school is still hoping for more donations of pots, tools and plants. Anyone interested in donating should contact the school directly.
