The idea
Currently the grounds of Tickhill Community Library are run down and overgrown. Conversations with our customers and within the community have shown there to be a strong interest in transforming this currently wasted space into a pocket park and sensory garden which can be accessed and enjoyed by all members of our local and surrounding communities. We plan to deliver this garden in 2 phases and once fully complete, this community garden will offer the following:
•Planting to stimulate the senses
•Raised beds to make planting accessible to everyone
•Sensory features to promote engagement with the garden
•Hard landscaping to provide easy access for all including wheelchair users, pushchairs and for those using other mobility aids
•Seating areas in the sun and in the shade to offer a space for relaxation, reading or chatting with friends and family
This really will be a garden for everyone! We are seeking your support to enable us to complete the first phase of our garden project.
What we'll deliver
- Excavation of the garden area
- Hard landscaping which is accessible to all visitors
- Topsoil in borders and planting pockets (ready to receive planting in phase 2 of our garden project)
- Fixed and moveable seating
- Sensory features to engage visitors
Why it's a great idea
We are aiming to bring life and purpose into this currently disused space by creating a pocket park and sensory garden in the heart of our community as we strongly believe that in doing so we will be able to provide:
•an accessible garden for all members of the community to enjoy including the elderly, children and adults with or without additional needs
•a calming, safe space where children and adults with additional needs can explore their senses without feeling overwhelmed and to provide adults with dementia with stimulation to promote engagement and interest
•an environment which families can enjoy together and customers can enjoy reading or to sitting and chatting with friends
•an outdoor space for story time, coffee mornings, reading groups and activities
•a space accessible to local schools and nurseries with sensory elements to promote engagement in learning activities
•a quiet haven for everyone at the heart of our village, especially the elderly, socially isolated
Steps to get it done
- Excavate the overgrown disused space in preparation for the groundwork to commence
- Hard landscaping of garden to be completed
- Fill the borders and planting pockets with topsoil ready to receive the plants in phase 2 of our project
- Purchase seating and sensory features to be included in this first phase of our project
- Installation of fixed sensory features, such as mirrors, and seating
In creating this special garden, we will enable people to mix together as we come out of the Covid-19 situation and also a provide safe space which our community and surrounding communities can benefit from and enjoy way into the future. Furthermore, as the library and its grounds fall within Tickhill’s conservation area, the garden we plan to create will enhance this.
In order to ensure that our project is achievable, we have decided to create our community garden in two phases. In this first phase for which we are currently seeking your support, we will be employing a contractor to excavate the garden area and to supply and install the hard landscaping which will create the base for our garden. We also be installing some sensory features and seating which we plan to add to in phase 2. We will fill the borders and planting pockets with topsoil ready to receive the plants in phase 2 of our project. Our local community share our excitement to get this project underway.
