PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 24^TH NOVEMBER 2008

OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE The Blooming Good Fun School Garden

IN ST JOSEPHS SPECIAL SCHOOL (Balrothery Tallaght)

by Mayor Marie Corr

Tuesday 25^th November 2008 at 12.00 pm

Members of the Education Society of the Parks & Landscape Services Department designed and constructed a garden of the senses called The Blooming Good Fun School Garden for the Bloom Garden Show 2008 which was held in the Phoenix Park from Thursday 29th May to Monday 2nd June. It was generously supported by the Parks Department, The Social Inclusion Unit, The Arts Office and Environment. The Garden was awarded a Silver Gilt Medal.

Since then the garden has been rebuilt by the Parks Department at St Josephs School in Tallaght for the enjoyment of the staff and pupils there. It is hoped the garden will bring years of enjoyment to everyone at the school. Gardening is a fun and healthy activity for people of all ages and abilities. It also has many other benefits. When planning a garden it is important to consider the needs of its users and build the garden around their needs.

It is hoped that the garden at St Josephs will bring a lot of enjoyment to the students who pass through the school. In the first instance it should make for a more pleasant school environment. It should highlight the joys of nature and bring the passing of the seasons into focus. It will offer children and staff a quiet retreat from the day to day bustle of school life. It also doubles as an outdoor classroom where students can learn about wildlife and the environment and hopefully it will trigger a lifelong interest in nature.

Most importantly however the garden is designed to be an interactive space. It is to be seen, felt, smelled, heard and eaten. It will continue to grow and change with the seasons and there is plenty of opportunity for the children to be involved in this. Gardening has many proven benefits for children. It can help to improve fitness, confidence, physical abilities, communication and social skills and is a great stress reliever. The pupils will have the opportunity to learn the skills required to grow fruit, vegetables and herbs. While gardening they can spend time alone on a task or enjoy teamwork and sharing tasks.

The garden is laid out with 5 separate zones spaced out around a central lawn. As you walk through the garden you pass through 5 themed spaces each representing one of the senses- Sight, Sound, Touch, Scent and Taste.

The Sight Zone features colours, shapes and special features to create a wonderful visual environment. There are 2 blackboards for drawing and an insect hotel.

The Taste Zone features fruit bushes and a raised vegetable plant will be installed later.

The Touch Zone features tactile plants and a raised water feature. There is also a notice board where the pupils can get information about nature and put up their artwork.

The ScentZone has a seating area where the scented herbs can be enjoyed.

The Sound Zone features grasses and bamboos for their rustling sound. Outdoor instruments can be added to this area such as wind chimes.

It is hoped that the school will find many uses for the garden and that it will become an integral part of the school. The many bird boxes will also encourage local wildlife to use the garden too.

Sight

Colours, shapes and special features can help to create a wonderful visual environment. Suggestions include:

Hearing

Birds, wind chimes, crunching gravel and wind whistling through leaves can create their own musical magic. Suggestions include:

Touch

Soft lichens, lying like tempting cushions over rocks, or plants with large fleshy leaves that beg to be held gardens can be full of delightful things to touch and feel. Suggestions include:

Smell

You may not want to plant a chamomile lawn but crushing fresh herbs in your hands or walking under a flowering jasmine arch at nightfall can hold their own against the most expensive perfumes for delightful smell sensations. Suggestions include:

Taste

Once youve tasted a homegrown tomato, or discovered the delights of having fresh herbs outside your backdoor, youll never look back. Suggestions include:

Time spent in natural environments can provide a range of health benefits, including reduced stress and lowered blood pressure. Most gardens offer visual appeal, but a sensory garden is designed to stimulate all five senses. Its not hard to transform your own backyard into a sensory delight.

Contact Persons: Maria Finn or Sandra Hickey Social Inclusion Unit Tel: 01 4149270 or 086 3803060

ENDS

ISSUED 24^TH NOVEMBER 2008