Welney school pupils record Mother's Day song to raise funds for sensory garden

PUPILS were in fine voice when they recorded a Mother s Day song and kick-started a fundraising campaign for a new sensory garden atWilliam Marshall Primary School in Welney.

Story by: TOM JACKSON

PUPILS were in fine voice when they recorded a Mother's Day song and kick-started a fundraising campaign for a new sensory garden at their school.

Plans have been revealed for a major overhaul of outdoor facilities at William Marshall Primary School in Welney, which will include a railway station, raised bedding areas and an outdoor classroom under the shelter of a tree.

A fundraising campaign has now been launched to make those plans a reality - and that hit the high notes on Friday when 20 pupils recorded a CD and a DVD of the song, Mother Dear.

Those pupils brave enough also appeared in front of the cameras alone and sung a solo version that will also go on-sale.

The renovation scheme is led by parent Kim Patel, whose daughter joined William Marshall in September.

Mrs Patel said: "It is a lovely little school but I felt it was lacking in imagination outdoors. When the children go out to play, especially in summer, there is nothing there for them.

"I asked the head teacher Lyn Chatwin about creating a sensory garden and it turned out she had spoken about the same idea with staff."

Mrs Patel contacted Roger Giles of Welney-based Giles Landscapes, who agreed for designer Stephen Hall to take on the task.

Mr Hall said: "We have tried to make the best use of what is here already. For example, we identified an existing wooden play train at the back and decided to make it more of a play railway station."

Mrs Patel has already secured donations of a stainless steel water feature, seeds and paint to create a Victorian railway scene.

But Mrs Patel said: "We want to build the four raised bedding first and we need 60 new railway sleepers to make them.

"The sleepers cost �20 each and we are appealing to businesses and individuals to donate."

So far, �204 has been raised through pre-orders of the CD and DVD. A further �73 raised at a Christmas raffle has been added to the pot.

• CDs cost �5 for the group performance or �7 for a solo version. DVDs cost �7 for the group performance or �10 for individual ones. They should be available from today (Friday).

To donate, or to buy a CD or DVD, visit the school.