We brought you news in the Spring Newsletter of the plans for the ‘Thought Garden’ to be located behind the Optimal Learning Centre. We are now able to share the designs Skanska, the construction company working at Worthy Down who are providing a group of volunteers to plan, prepare and create the infrastructure of the garden, have drawn up.

The work will happen in early May and culminate in a day of planting, with the aim to involve some students in the planting day. As you will be aware part of the garden will be dedicated to Mac Sutcliffe. ‘Mac’s Place’ will be a quiet area in which students can sit.  The money raised by Olly Worrall will purchase a bench for Mac’s Place and Mac’s parents have contributed a wonderful sculpture for the garden.

The long term aim for the garden is to provide horticultural opportunities for our students, using horticulture in a therapeutic way to enhance mental health and general well-being. The aim is to officially open the garden on the 7th of July 2017 to tie in with Year 11 Leavers’ Day. We are determined to make this an uplifting and celebratory day. How wonderful it will be to include Mac in our thoughts on this day. 

As noted in Miss Hearle's letter home, requested plants are as follows: