At the opening ceremony: (l-r) Cllr Collier, Claire Gray, Cllr David Bryan, Mrs Leney (all school governors)
Headteacher Mrs O’Brien, Charles Young, Head of the LRC Mrs Byres, and Deputy Head Mrs Jones

AFTER MONTHS of hard work from a small band of dedicated volunteers, Mount Airey School’s ‘Sensory Garden’ was officially opened on Thursday , June 23.

The garden will provide opportunities for pupils, many of whom have highly complex needs, to access the outdoor environment in a ‘safe, engaging, and multi-sensory manner.’

The Sensory Garden was the brainchild of Milford Haven father Charles ‘Boney’ Young, whose son, Cai, was a pupil at the school’s Learning Resource Centre for four years.

Charles told The Herald: “In September 2012 , my youngest son was sent to speech and language therapy as a non-verbal child .

Speech and Language then put us into contact with the Doctors at Withybush Hospital for assessment of ASD.

“Not long after this , he was sent to Mount Airey. Needless to say , the results were outstanding and his speech , motor skills and confidence soon started to flourish .

“ In September 2015 , Cai was at an age where it was time for him to leave Mount Airey. In the final days of his schooling at this amazing school, I began chatting with Mrs O’Brien about how grateful I was to the school and its staff for all that they had done for Cai .

“I then suggested I could put Mount Airey up for a chance at a vote to win funding to help the school and , specifically , the LRC unit.”

Charles has previously raised funds for a number of charities, including Clic Sargent and the Cleft Lip and Palate Association, through the Charity Angling Festival, which was supported by The Herald in 2015.

After seeing a presentation from Mount Airey pupils in which they put forward the idea for a Sensory Garden in the school, the project was put forward for the funding competition

by the Charity Angling Festival. After a public vote on social media, Mount Airey LRC were confirmed winners with 75% of the vote.

After the Charity Angling Festival proved to be a resounding success, the hard work really began. After consulting with staff and pupils, a design for the garden, which focuses on providing individual and combined sensory opportunities for the user that they may not normally experience, was put forward.

After the plans were then developed, Lee Canny , of Canllin, prepared the necessary method statements and risk assessments for the work to take place.

Once the plans were approved, work could commence on clearing the site of the Sensory Garden – a plot of land adjoining the school which had been left to run wild for years.

Work started towards the end of 2015, and the site was eventually cleared. However, rain and gales hampered the efforts of Charles and fellow volunteers, Lawrence Drake and Byron Thomas-Jenkins.

Once Spring finally arrived, though, work was able to progress. Astonishing progress was made in turning a patch of wasteland into a feast for all the senses although , due to other commitments , Charles found himself regularly working alone.

Haverfordwest Mayor , Sue Murray , and local County Councillor, Jonathan Collier , also offered their support, with Jonathan even building the chimes and putting in a shift on the cement mixer!

Staff and pupils took the opportunity to thank Charles and his wife Claire for all their hard work at the opening ceremony on Thursday. Mount Airey pupils gave him a rapturous round of applause and sang a song dedicated to him before Cai cut the ribbon to officially open the garden on his return to the school.

On behalf of the pupils, parents, staff and Governing Body, Headteacher Mrs Cora O’Brien thanked the Young family for their tremendous generosity in creating a wonderful sensory garden.

She described it as: “A place to listen, a place to see, a place to smell, a place to taste, a place to touch.

“A place where we can all endeavour to remain forever young.”

Speaking after the event, Charles said: “I would personally like to thank Mrs O’Brien, Mrs Jones and Mrs Byres for allowing me to attend today. While I’m thanking individuals, I would also like to say a big thanks to Cllr Jonathan Collier and Chris , the Sheriff of Last Year , for attending today, and also to Cllr Sue Murray who was unable to attend. You have been instrumental in providing me with the emotional support to carry this out. I would also like to thank my wife and family, who often didn’t see me as I was up the garden at every dry opportunity.

“Everyone says that their school is their home away from home, but for these teachers and pupils , both past and present , this is their home, their playground and a stage for them to perform.

“The teachers here have taught friendship and given lessons in life, while conveying the values of authority and humbleness with equal perfection.

“ Today we were able to share in a dream that was once nothing but a passing comment in conversation.”

Even after the garden was completed, there were still funds remaining . After consulting with the teachers, it was arranged that some of the money should be put towards hiring a coach and sending the pupils and teachers of the LRC Unit on a free trip to Folly Farm, with the remainder to be put towards more gardening equipment for the Sensory Garden.

However, although the finishing touches were still being put to the Garden on the morning of the opening, Charles has no plans to rest on his laurels yet, and has planned to walk the Pembrokeshire Coast al Path without any food, money or camping gear later this summer to raise money for other good causes.

Charles thanked a number of people who contributed materials and expertise to the project free -of -charge, including Gareth Phillips at A and C Aggregate Tiers Cross, who provided sand, stone and concrete, Phillip and Steven Thomas of Tbs Turf, Lee Canny of Canllin, Andrew Gray and Son Plant Hire, local resident Fern Jones who donated the blocks for the wall, Scales and Tails who donated a fountain and pump, and finally The Pembrokeshire Herald and all the anglers who fished the Charity Angling Festival last year, who made it all possible.

Thomas Sinclair, Herald Editor, said: “Our newspaper is proud to support such an important community project, and we wish it every success for the future.”