Sensory garden opens today in Ballinagar

A sensory garden is being officially opened today (Wednesday) at the Irish Wheelchair Association’s resource and outreach centre in Ballinagar.

The garden, which was made possible by fundraising and was designed and planned by Irish Wheelchair Association members, includes a relaxing woodland area, accessible pathways, raised flower and plant beds, a water feature, seating areas and a polytunnel that will be used to grow a variety of herbs, fruit and vegetables.

The sensory garden will be officially opened at 1pm today by chairman of the Irish Wheelchair Association Lt General Gerry McMahon.

The Irish Wheelchair Association’s resource and outreach centre in Ballinagar was officially opened in 2009, and has expanded and developed over the last five years. It supports over 50 people with disabilities from Tullamore and the surrounding areas on a weekly basis.

The new community garden will provide educational opportunities for those who attend the centre, with plans to create and sustain a crop rotation programme, cultivate fruit and vegetables and carry out recycling and compost projects.