Posted by Lesley McCarthy on Sep 07, 2019
Today we held the first working bee at Ascot Vale West Primary School.   
The plan is to create a sensory garden to surround the new Buddy Bench,
and create an enjoyable space for children to sit, chat and enjoy the fragrances.
 
This project has been supported by a Rotary District 9800 Foundation Grant.
 
 
 
 
 
 
The end result looks amazing.
 
With the weather looking threatening, an early start meant we made the most of the clear skies. 
A large number of parents and children arrived to participate with the Key Mistresses Kristy and Kai running around finding everything we needed from shovels, to rakes, buckets and extension cords..   It was great to have Amanda there with her amazing horticultural knowledge.
 
During the day the group built and installed the garden bed edging, built and installed the 3 wicking beds, dug holes for and planted the 3 mature Crepe Myrtle trees, installed the Buddy Bench, cleared weeds, gravel, rubbish and then laid lilydale topping onto the garden bed.
Many thanks to Anne and John Heyes for building the wicking beds, Allan Bruno, Ted Frank, new member Shradda Sharma and family,  and the school community.
Working Bee on Sunday will see Allan Bruno together with Amanda and family finish off the wicking beds.
 
Working Bee on 6th October will involve students planting out the wicking beds with the appropriate sensory plants.