Intel employees have raised €1,235 towards a Serenity Garden for children with Learning Difficulties & Medical Needs in St Anne's School in Ardclough.
Donations were also received from Woodies, Goodwin’s, Chadwick’s of Lucan, the Orchard Garden Centre in Celbridge, Colourtrend in Celbridge and Instant Pots and Plants in Enfield.
School Principal Mary Manley said the vision was to create a Serenity Garden within the grounds of the school in Ardclough.
In a Mission Statement, Ms Manley said: "This would be a real and meaningful learning area for all children within the school, and particularly for children with autism and those who have medical needs.
"This area will capture the imagination, stimulate the senses and be a calm and reflective space for all. It will be structured as a trail for children to travel through with branches from the main core that will provide a variety of experiences for children to choose.
"A variety of colours in planting will provide visual stimulation; sounds, both calming and stimulating, will come from water, wind through leaves and perhaps wind chimes. Stimulation for the senses of smell and touch can also be incorporated through planting that provides both subtle and strong scents and a variety of textures.
"We would envisage this as a whole-school and community project where children, parents and wider community would contribute to design and creation.
"We believe that children with autism, both in our special class and in mainstream, would benefit hugely from a sensory garden. Many of the children are overwhelmed by sensory overload. We would like to enable these children explore their senses in a safe and stimulating environment.
"We hope that it may meet some of their sensory needs and in engaging with the garden feel a sense of empowerment in choosing activities.
"St Anne’s School Ardclough is situated amid green fields in North Kildare. While we are surrounded in the main by the countryside, bringing the countryside in to school life can be difficult.
"Through our Serenity Garden we would provide an easily accessed, outdoor classroom area, a learning environment. This would fulfil a key characteristic of learning within the Irish SESE Curriculum, that is, the involvement of the child in active exploration and investigation of the natural environment and appreciation of the natural world
"We see the Serenity Garden as a therapeutic outlet for children. All children need to find an avenue for relaxation and thinking. Many children present with anxiety and we believe that a garden provides a time to be in touch with the nature and take time out from the demands of timetables. This may be in the form of walking through the garden or indeed in being involved in caring for the area.
"At times some of our precious students may be undergoing more serious medical treatments and illnesses. A garden of this sort would provide a focus for these children and a space to reflect and relax over time."
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