All set for spring, MC Construction helped create a sensory garden for pupils of Park Lane Special School in Macclesfield on Tuesday, 29th March. We had recently completed the refurbishment and extension of the school to accommodate an additional 40 places required for children with Special Educational Needs for Cheshire East Council.
Joining forces with volunteers including Cheshire East property management team, Park Lane pupils, green-fingered governors, architects Halliday Meecham, quantity surveyors Currie & Brown and engineers Sutcliffe we set about painting and planting to develop the plot. Containing timber planters, pergolas and a pavilion, the former overflow car park now provides a welcoming experiential space.
The garden will produce an abundance of sensory stimulation. Colourful flowers gifted by a local garden centre and fragrant herbs such as lavender, lemon and mint are complemented by bamboo and succulents, rustling trees and a water feature. We created a wall-mounted activity board featuring handles, valves, latches and rolling castors for children to play with. There are dedicated story and activity areas and a vegetable patch to facilitate learning about planting and growing food.
We also held an art competition, presented a certificate and framed the children’s artwork ready to display in their new classrooms. As a prize for the competition and to mark the opening of the new facilities MC Construction donated a specially designed swing with a wheelchair platform.
Park Lane Special School Headteacher, Lorraine Warmer said:
“Thanks to all who helped for their hard work. The garden looks amazing and gives the pupils a really great space to enjoy.”
MC Construction, Managing Director, Dave Lowe said:
“It has been an absolute honour to be involved with this project. We hope the state-of-the-art learning facilities and sensory garden will be enjoyed by pupils and staff of Park Lane Special School for many years to come.”
Students recently enjoyed an important occasion when two time capsules were placed together in the roof void, ready to be opened in 50 years’ time. The school had filled a capsule with pupils’ memorabilia and MC Construction, having just celebrated its golden anniversary year, had filled a second with images and artefacts from the business over its 50-year lifespan.
Our staff have engaged with pupils throughout the project. We conducted an outdoor assembly where children could touch and feel some of our PPE and the different materials used in the building. We also held regular updates on the project to students training in construction skills at the neighbouring Macclesfield College. We donated materials including bricks, sand, cement, timber, DPC, wall ties, worktops and even a brand-new kitchen. We are keen to remain involved with the college and are soon to sponsor a construction workshop.
