The town centre garden, created by Breaking Barriers NW, provides an outdoor experience with a focus on crafting a sensory-rich environment for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Breaking Barriers NW is a charity for children with SEND, young people and their families, set up by three parents of disabled children.
The sensory garden first opened its gates last year but recently relocated from the rooftop of Market Place to a more accessible patio area.
It is now tucked around the back of Market Place, by the Bridge Street entrance to the shopping area.
The garden is filled with plants that can be touched, sniffed, admired by those who visit.
“It’s just a lovely space,” says manager Laken(Image: NQ)
CEO and founder of Breaking Barriers NW Steph Sherratt, 56, said: “We are a charity for families with children and young people who have SEND.
“We are here to support them with whatever current challenges they are facing, whether that be through providing a listening ear, offering somewhere to go and have a coffee with other parents, or referring them into one of the other programmes that we have.
“We are family, children, and young person-centred.”
Although the Bolton-based charity was founded over a decade ago, Steph said: “Often parents of children with SEND in Bolton are not aware of Breaking Barriers and the support that can be provided to families who need it.”
Senior manager at Breaking Barriers NW Laken Reid, 37, said: “Our sensory garden is open to everybody.
“We run groups, and we grow food that is then given to the community.
“It’s a really lovely space for people to enjoy.”
Steph added: “If the sun is out, we open the gates, and people can come in and sit for a while and have a brew.”
Sensory gardens can help to support sensory processing by offering a mix of stimulating and calming experiences(Image: NQ)
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Although the garden has relocated, the Breaking Barriers bees are still on the rooftop of Market Place and can often be seen flying down to the flowers.
Honey is regularly harvested from the hives and shared within the community.
“A lot of the children and young people that we work with have difficulties around eating different food,” said Laken.
“So, we ran ‘Food for Thought’, a project that involved the children growing and harvesting the food themselves.”
With the Breaking Barriers team, the children were able to taste their homegrown fruit and vegetables, encouraging them to try new things.
Breaking Barriers hosts family events for the community throughout the year(Image: Supplied)
The garden project was made possible by a grant from the Bupa Foundation’s Healthy Cities initiative, supporting grassroots projects that enhance urban green spaces, “promoting both people and planet health”.
Since 2023, the Bupa Foundation has invested more than £1 million in Green Community Grants, available across the UK and in Ireland, as part of the initiative.
Anna Russell, Director of the Bupa Foundation, said: “At Bupa, we believe the health of people and the health of our planet are deeply connected.
“That’s why we’re proud to support grassroots projects like the sensory garden created by Breaking Barriers NW.
“Their beehive garden is truly inspiring, encouraging people to spend more time outdoors, connect with nature, and support physical and mental wellbeing.
“It’s a great example of the impact of the Bupa Foundation Green Community Grants, and the potential for even more communities to benefit in 2025.
“When we all get involved, we can make a real difference to the health of our communities and the environment.”
The weather may be cooling down, but the Breaking Barriers charity shop, on the upper floor of Market Place, is still in full bloom.
Community members are encouraged to browse their range of pre-loved items or relax with a coffee, cake and catch up.
General manager of Market Place Dave Pearman said: “We’re proud to stand alongside Breaking Barriers NW in their mission to make our community more inclusive and welcoming for everyone.
“The Sensory Garden and Sensory Room are wonderful examples of how spaces can bring people together – calm, supportive, and accessible for all.
“We’re proud to support their ongoing work, helping everyone feel welcome at Market Place”
Breaking Barriers, Bupa Foundation and Market Place have taken what was once a disused space and created a flourishing community area.
To find out more about Breaking Barriers NW and to donate, visit: www.breakingbarriersnw.com
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