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Opening of new outdoor learning space

Well done to our Independent Living Skills learners who helped to create a new outdoor learning space, with a little help from young people on Leonard Cheshire’s Can Do programme.

They joined forces with the Can Doers, who learn new skills as part of the scheme, to create a new garden funded by the National Garden Scheme at Crosskeys Campus. Unveiled this week, the garden which will provide an outdoor classroom for students, includes raised beds and a poly tunnel to grow plants and a small animal section. Cllr Julian Simmonds, Mayor of Caerphilly, joined Sally Davis, Chair of the Board of Trustees for Leonard Cheshire, and Laura Crandley, Executive Director of Partnerships at Leonard Cheshire, in thanking the 60 Can Doers who helped create the garden.

Gary Handley, Faculty Director of Care and Community Studies said, “We are delighted to work with the Leonard Cheshire Can Do programme on this fantastic project which has been made possible thanks to a grant from the National Garden Scheme. This new outdoor learning space will provide a wonderful facility for our ILS learners to acquire skills growing flowers and plants to sell and vegetables to use in cooking. It is our intention to replicate such excellent facilities on all our campuses in the near future.”

Lecturers helped guide the creation of the garden. Jonathan Smith, Head of School for Health, Social Care and Independent Living Skills said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to give learners an excellent experience via the garden project. Learners can focus on developing life skills to use when they leave college and move into employment. It will also help raise their awareness of the environment.”

Student Callum Davies, said: “I will enjoy caring for the animals, growing the food and using that food in our cooking. It’s really exciting”.