WTF attend Scargill Junior School’s Summer Fete in West Hallam
By Kevan Garvey
WTF recently attended Scargill Junior School’s Summer Fete in West Hallam. The school’s PTA had arranged the event to mark the opening of “Michael’s Way” sensory garden. A labour of vision, compassion and love. Sadly, Michael’s Way, was sewn and nurtured out of the loss of another young person to suicide, Michael Bull, born and raised in West Hallam and a former pupil of Scargill School.
WTF were honoured to be asked to help support Michael’s family in the imagining of a sensory garden in tribute to Michael. We provided a beautiful wooden “reading throne”. We know that reading helps support your emotional health, increases imagination and creativity, and reduces anxiety and stress. We felt that the chair was perfect for the garden.
Michael’s Way, indulges our senses. Movement of water, sand flowing through your fingers and fragrances, provided by seasonal flowers and herbs, are just a hint of the stimulation the garden affords to your hearing, touch and smell. Meandering pathways, backdropped by the harmony of wind chimes caused by the tenderness of the breeze swaying through tubes of metal and wood hanging from the garden’s trees. The chimes generate a range of harmonies, from the gentle tinkling of fairy bells to the deep low sonorous melodies of dragon slumber. There are delights with every twist and turn of the garden’s pathways.
Michael’s sensory garden decompresses. It provides an opportunity to let the medicine of nature help heal you a little. Mindfulness blossoms there, and it allows gentle exercise to take root, and provides fertile ground to improve well-being. This sensory garden’s crop is calm.
And, as for the giant? Well, that is provided by the patronage of local boy, TV Gladiator “Giant”, aka Jamie Christian Johal, who has supported the project throughout and was there to officially open the garden.
Michael’s Way is open at Scargill School, West Hallam, every Sunday 10.00am – 12pm.
