Harewood Infant School, located near Mears Group’s Gloucester head office, supports a large number of children with additional needs. The new garden has been designed to encourage outdoor learning and sensory development, offering a calm and engaging space for exploration and play.
The project has completely revitalised a previously unused and overgrown area. The new space now includes raised planting beds, ornamental grasses, pebbles, shrubs and a purpose-built shed to safely store sensory equipment.
A ribbon-cutting event was recently held to mark the official opening of the garden, with staff, children and members of the local community in attendance. The new space will be used not only by the school but also by several community groups that share the site.
The project was supported by Heather Tyrer and Sullivan Stancliffe-Vick from the Mears Foundation team, who worked closely with the school to bring the garden to life.
Heather Tyrer, General Manager of the Mears Foundation, said:
From the start, this was about creating a space that could support children’s development in a really meaningful way. Seeing the school’s vision come to life and knowing it will be used by so many groups is incredibly rewarding. It’s a great example of how the Foundation can help unlock the potential of local spaces.
The Mears Foundation is the charitable arm of Mears Group and supports community-led projects across the UK. This initiative is part of the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to supporting grassroots projects that bring lasting benefits to local communities.
