Blackburn English Language School (BELS) Croydon, in partnership with EACH and Bunning in Croydon are engaging in a project to rejuvenate their Memory Garden.
The school’s Memory Garden was first created in 2013 as part of the Health Promoting Schools program. Three years on, the garden has deteriorated and requires work to bring it back to life. BELS have been fortunate enough to receive a grant from Eastern Alliance for Sustainable Learning to fund this initiative.
Currently 80% of the BELS student population have a refugee background. The purpose of the Memory Garden is to provide a quiet place for students to escape the busy school yard and sit and reflect.
The students have been consulted on the planned rejuvenation and ideas have included a lunch area, along with native and flowering plants.
The teachers are planning to use the large gum tree in the middle of the garden as an art installation with ideas including ‘yarn bombing’ the tree with knitting from the school knitting group, and hanging mobiles and decorations from the branches.
“We are so excited to work with BELS on the Memory Garden and are grateful to Bunnings for providing plants and assisting with the project. It’s important for children to have a spot they can turn to for peace and quiet, it good for their mental health and wellbeing,” Elizabeth Senior, Senior Health Promotion Officer, EACH Health Promotion Team.
A Planting Day was held on Tuesday 11th October 2016, with students and teachers involved in working in the school garden, planting trees and shrubs donated by Bunnings.
For more information on this initiative please contact Elizabeth Senior, EACH Senior Health Promotion Officer on 9757 6206 or at lsenior@each.com.au.
