Peregrin Way Centre, in Harthill, is a sheltered complex of around 50 bungalows.
Although the residents of the Centre lead a busy social life, regularly taking part in activities such as indoor bowling, card making, craft classes, internet shopping and digital photography, helping to improve their quality of life, the Centre had no suitable outdoor space in which to relax.
The complex is supported by a dedicated team of members who call themselves the Peregrin Way Centre Fund Trust. The team officially became a TARA two years ago.
Over the last few years, the Fund Team has worked hard to secure support to improve the inside of the Centre, including redecoration, modern tables and chairs, and a new kitchen.
After all their recent improvements, the Centre’s Warden Denise Marshall joked of finding a new challenge. It was then that 2010 Rotherham Neighbourhood Champion Wayne Henshaw came up the idea the sensory garden.
Wayne said: “Before work started on the garden, it was neglected and boggy. It was really just an area of sloping grass, which wasn’t used at all. Meanwhile, it was such a hub of activity indoors and the residents were running out of space.”
Denise, who has worked at Peregrin Way for the last eight years, added: “Now that the sensory garden has been completed, it will be lovely space in which people can get together. It will be one more way we can help prevent residents becoming ostracised or isolated.”
Wayne originally secured funding from the Rother Valley South Area Housing Panel and Award for All lottery funding - £10,000 in total. Additional funding was also supplied by O2 Phone Network for decoration, including painting.
Wayne, with the help of 2010 Rotherham Ltd Neighbourhood Housing Officer Helen Parnham, then set about creating a design for the garden. This freed up money which would otherwise have been used to hire a professional designer to spend on new seating, umbrellas, wood burner, bird equipment, hosepipe, wind chimes, solar lights, and decorating material.
The sensory garden was designed with hearing, sight and mobility difficulties in mind. It needed to have complete wheelchair access, and to require limited maintenance. In addition, consideration was given to the type of plants used; ones which would stimulate the senses of sight, smell, touch and sound. Staff from 2010 Rotherham Ltd fitted a new outside tap to help the residents water their new hardy plants, and a high security door was provided by 2010 Rotherham Ltd’s Decent Homes team.
Responsibility for landscaping and planting went to the Creswell branch of Groundwork Trust, based in Clowne. Other additions to the garden included a built-in barbecue and patio area.
The Groundwork Trust is a national initiative which aims to improve the quality of life from an environmental perspective by building and sustaining communities.
The Groundwork project incorporates the Train to Construct scheme which helps young people get the employment skills they need to find permanent work by participating in a hands-on learning 18-week course. The trainees gain experience in block paving, brick and slab laying, basic landscaping and gardening.
Up to 30 young people worked on the Peregrin Way garden, including over-14s from Springwell, Parkside and Deincourt Community Schools in Chesterfield, as well as Rotherham Young Offenders.
Trainee Simon Trodden, 18, is one of the keenest students on the course. He said: “I have learned a lot and this is definitely something I would like to follow through in the future.”
Creswell branch Youth Training Facilitator Paul Coulson added: “This is a beneficial project for all. Not only does it help to put something back into the community by helping the residents of the Centre, but it also gives the trainees on the scheme better opportunities for the future.”
Secretary of the Peregrin Way Centre Fund Trust Ida Atkin said: “This Centre gives us a purpose. I can’t believe that 12 months ago we were joking about starting a new project. We didn’t really believe it was going to happen and if you had seen the state of the garden then, you wouldn’t believe we could get this far. We are delighted with our new garden. It will now mean that residents can sit outside and read a book, and on really nice days, we will be able to hold barbecues for the residents.”