Charity project aims to help wildlife take flight

A County Durham charity is launching a community project to support local wildlife while creating new opportunities for young people with disabilities.

The Sensory Place is introducing its Bees & Butterflies initiative at Merryoaks Community Centre in Durham, inviting young people to design and plant wildlife-friendly planters.

The project aims to encourage biodiversity across the city, with planters set to be placed in local residents’ homes once they begin to bloom in spring and summer.

Supporting around 200 families, the charity provides activities and events for children and young people with disabilities up to the age of 25, alongside dedicated support for parents and carers.

Amy Henderson, co-founder and trustee at The Sensory Place, said: “Children and young people with disabilities, and their families, often face significant barriers to inclusion in community life, with mainstream environmental and creative activities rarely being adapted to meet their needs.

“This project will provide a safe, inclusive space where our children can take part in hands-on environmental activities and engage in sensory-rich play while also learning about local wildlife and sustainability.

“Decorating the planters also adds a creative, confidence-building element to it and we can’t wait how our young people decide to express themselves.”

The initiative has been backed by a £2000 grant from the Banks Group’s Banks Community Fund, helping to cover materials, seeds and staffing.

Kate Culverhouse, community relations manager at the Banks Group, added: “The Sensory Place team has a deep personal understanding of the needs of young people with disabilities and their families, and offers an extensive range of inclusive and engaging activities which help to meet them. 

“The Bees & Butterflies project will not only give the young people a great chance to enjoy some hands-on learning, but it will also have a wider positive impact on the local community when the planters come into full bloom in residents’ homes.”

Local residents are also being encouraged to get involved by helping decorate the planters and hosting them at their homes.

The project forms part of wider efforts to create inclusive, community-focused activities while enhancing green spaces across Durham.

Amy added: “We hope that involving local residents with the project will help to bring the community together by breaking down the barriers that can sometimes exist between families with disabled children and people who might not have any personal experience of meeting them.

“We try to keep our costs as low as possible, so that activities remain accessible to everyone who might enjoy them, and we’re really grateful to the Banks Group for helping us take this new project forward.”

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