Sensory garden plans for Chadsgrove Educational Trust Specialist College

Chadsgrove Educational Trust Specialist College is a specialist College in Bromsgrove which caters for students aged 19 to 25 years whose special educational needs arise from their physical disability or a complex health need.

The sensory, outdoor space will support students to learn more outdoors, whilst stimulating and engaging their senses. 

The wheelchair friendly, raised planters that the school hope to install as part of the project, will enable students to grow herbs and vegetables helping them to learn additional independent living skills - ones which will help prepare them for life beyond College.

Councillor Marcus Hart, Cabinet Member for Communities at Worcestershire County Council, said: “I know first hand what wonderful support and experience that Chadsgrove Educational Trust Specialist College offers to its students and the local wider school community. Crowdfund Worcestershire was happy to help to pledge the school to help reach their target, this project embodies what the overall scheme is all about; helping local communities to develop and grow both now and in the future.”

Deb Rattley,  Head Teacher of Chadsgrove Educational Trust Specialist College said: “We are really grateful to the County Council for the pledge towards our sensory garden. The project will directly support local community projects within Catshill as we will proudly donate the fresh produce we grow in our vegetable garden to 'The Cozy Cafe' and Catshill Foodbank - helping our community where needed.  We are looking forward to establishing inter-generational bonds with members of our local community too, by inviting them in to join us for events in our new garden. We plan to hold holistic events where members of our local community can join us to find out how gardening, herbs and the outdoors can help to improve their well-being.”

Crowdfund Worcestershire, is a fund led by Worcestershire County Council and delivered by Spacehive, a specialist crowdfunding platform.



As part of this initiative, local residents and groups with an idea to improve their community have the opportunity to pitch to the County Council and secure funding to bring their idea to life.

Anybody can get behind the projects, with pledges starting at £2.



All of the projects pitched to the County Council are supporting the Council’s priorities, to support local communities; food and fuel poverty, Social isolation and befriending, supporting people into employment, community capacity building e.g. recruiting volunteers, start-up costs for groups, pilot activities, healthy communities – activities to improve the health and wellbeing of the local community.

Students at Chadsgrove Educational Trust Specialist College have created a video which explains what the funds will be used towards and the difference a new garden will make. You can watch this video on YouTube.