By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
Monbulk Primary School is set to transform an under-utilised area of its grounds into a reposeful sensory garden, thanks to a generous $10,000 grant from Yarra Valley Water.
The sensory garden will provide students, their families, and local wildlife with a peaceful retreat.
Principal Estelle Alder said the garden would especially benefit students who need a sensory break from the demands of school life.
“It will be a fantastic asset for the children of our school community and their families,” Ms Alder said.
“It will provide a place of respite, especially for children who require some sensory respite.”
The project is a win-win, as it will not only create a calming space for students, but also benefit the environment.
The area, which had been fenced off during nearby school building works and had several large trees removed due to safety concerns, will be rehabilitated with native plants.
The garden will continue the connection to Country that was established with the installation of an Indigenous Red Circle, in partnership with local elder Murrindindi.
The garden design will honour this heritage, using plant species that recognise the area’s cultural significance.
In line with the school’s sustainability goals, the garden will also be water efficient, reducing its environmental impact. This project complements Monbulk Primary’s efforts to achieve its Sustainability Victoria Resources Smart Five Star accreditation.
The $10,000 grant from Yarra Valley Water will cover landscape design, materials, plants, pavers, and labour.
But the project isn’t just about the grant – it’s about community.
“Many in our school community are landscapers and garden designers, and we were fortunate enough to have one family take on these requests and create a design,” Ms Alder said.
The school is also calling on local businesses and families to lend a hand in bringing the vision to life.
Yarra Valley Water’s general manager strategy and community, Tiffany White, praised the school’s vision for the sensory garden.
“Monbulk Primary’s sensory garden project is such a clever and considered way to bring this corner of the school’s grounds back to life,” Ms White said.
“It creates a great space for both students and local wildlife, and brings the community together to make it happen.”
While students are not yet involved in the sensory garden’s creation, Ms Alder is eager to share their perspectives once the project is completed.
The sensory garden is a perfect example of how communities can unite to create spaces that benefit both people and the environment.
Monbulk Primary School is excited to watch it flourish.
