Ravara Training and Resource Centre in Bangor was buzzing with excitement on Tuesday when it’s new sensory garden was officially opened by the Chief Executive of the South Eastern Trust, Roisin Coulter.
The theme was the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and everyone was really getting into the spirit of the day. The entire centre has been festooned with glorious decorations made by the service users and the dress code was wear a mad hat!
What was once an overgrown outside space has been totally transformed, much to the delight of the 58 service users and their families, many of who said it means the world to them.
Regally attired as the Queen of Hearts, Ravara’s Manager Sonia Byrne explained, “We had a jungle outside that we couldn’t use. It has been landscaped over the last six months and it is now wheelchair accessible and service user friendly. There’s percussion instruments, there’s lights, there’s trees, there’s a sculpture, there’s benches and it’s really fantastic. It’s just going to give a lot of joy and a lot of wellbeing to our service users here.”
Wearing a fabulous mad hat, Nikki Hamilton said she was “totally amazed” when Sonia took her for a walk in the garden. “I’ve been coming to Ravara for 20 years and it is just so lovely. I love the swing and just everything. There’s just so much more to do now.”
Another service user Lucy Dalzell agreed saying, “It’s just lovely! I always said we needed a garden and now we have one to enjoy.”
There were claps and cheers as some of the service users took to the stage to sing songs while everyone enjoyed the delicious Mad Hatter’s tea party.
Cutting the red ribbon to officially open the new garden, the Chief Executive of the South Eastern Trust Roisin Coulter stressed, “This is a very special group of people. They’re very committed to Ravara over many, many years, so it’s up to us to do our best to support them. Everyone is so impressed with the size of the garden and all of the facilities in it. It is wonderful to hear all the chat and the laughter and the singing here this afternoon. It’s an absolutely brilliant day.”
The Trust’s Senior Project Manager Brendan Ennis said the project was a labour of love. “It means a lot to me but more so for the staff and for the service users. A once forgotten corner, waste ground, with six foot high bushes and hedges, is now a great place for everyone at Ravara. First and foremost it’s for them, it’s nothing really to do with me.
