11.06.07
Sight, sound, taste, touch, smell: University College Falmouth design students collaborate with local schools on sensory garden project

Following the award winning success of Level 3 students at this year's Chelsea Flower Show, Level 1 students from University College Falmouth's BA(Hons) Garden Design course have been collaborating with pupils from Tregolls and Penair Schools to design a garden with a difference – an outdoor learning space that appeals to all the senses.

The students and pupils have developed a design for an area within the grounds of Tregolls School that includes a shelter, a wildlife pond, willow and bamboo tunnels, a secret beach and a vegetable plot, as well as wind chimes, artwork, scented plants, different textures and colours, flags and pipes to create a sensory and inspirational educational environment where pupils can find out more about plants, wildlife and growing food.

"Designing a sensory garden for Tregolls Primary School has been such an exciting experience," explained student, Zoe Weston. "From the off I was impressed by the children's interest and their ability to articulate thoughtful ideas," she added. "This has been a thoroughly worthwhile project and I can't wait for the ideas to be realised so that the children can enjoy the fruits of their labour."

BA(Hons) Garden Design Senior Lecturer, Sandra Zivkovic, concurred that the project had been inspirational and of great benefit to the students, and commented: "BA(Hons) Garden Design at Falmouth is all about place, people and environment. Our emphasis is on designing public as well as private spaces in response to people's needs. Live projects such as this provide our students with valuable life skills that will help them in their future careers. We are delighted to have had the opportunity to work with the local community in this way, and look forward to the finished results."

In order to make the sensory garden become reality, Tregolls School is now lobbying the support of the local community in the hope that companies will help with the supply of building materials. Anyone wishing to help should contact Diana Miners at the school, by emailing diana_miners@hotmail.com.

University College Falmouth is a founding partner in the Combined Universities in Cornwall, a unique initiative to promote regional economic regeneration through Higher Education. The CUC has received investment from the European Union (Objective One), the South West Regional Development Agency, and the Higher Education Funding Council for England, with support from Cornwall County Council.

For further information about BA(Hons) Garden Design at University College Falmouth, please visit www.falmouth.ac.uk/gardendesign, email admissions@falmouth.ac.uk or contact Admissions on 01326 214382 (for the full-time option) or 01326 214383 (for the part-time option.)

For further information please contact Jilly Easterby, Head of Public Affairs, University College Falmouth, on 01326 213792 or email jilly.easterby@falmouth.ac.uk.

The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has invested in the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) project, both Phase 1 and Phase 2, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). The University College Falmouth is a partner of the CUC.

Editor's notes:

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

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