A sensory garden has been officially opened at a Mickleover school in memory of former pupil Sam Liew who died from a rare epilepsy syndrome last year.
Silverhill Primary School, in Draycott Drive, has spent almost £15,000 creating Sam’s Sensory Garden complete with raised flower beds, a rainbow-coloured Arbor, a garden shed and artificial grass.
The outdoor play area is named after five-year-old Sam who was in reception at the school when he died from a one-in-a-million syndrome, thought to be brought on by a simple virus such as a cold.
His mum Rachel Liew has set up a charity called Sam’s Superheroes to fund emotional, well-being and therapeutic activities in his name and donated £4,500 towards the creation of the garden.
Sam’s mum Rachel and dog Daisy at the garden.
The school’s Parent Teacher Association contributed £6640, community group Our Mickleover donated £1,000, while Talbot Turf donated top soil, Perma Lawn donated Astro turf and C&C Agriculture provided three workmen for three days to build the garden.
Mickleover councillors donated £400 to help buy the garden shed, while Sam’s school friend Toby Mangnall raised £250 by completing a sponsored bike ride.
Special guests Spider Man and Spider Woman, from Childhood Dreams, cut a red ribbon to officially open the garden in front of the Year One pupils, who were Sam’s friends.
Rachel said: “I am exceptionally grateful that the school so graciously allowed the garden to be part of Sam’s legacy. It will be a super space for everyone to enjoy and I know it’s going to be really popular and used in a variety of different ways.
“Sam loved the outdoors and the garden allows children to really connect with nature, so the sensory garden is the perfect way for the children at Silverhill to celebrate Sam and all the things he enjoyed in life.
“I’m grateful to everyone who made this garden become a reality. I set up Sam’s Superheroes to create a lasting legacy for my little boy and it is wonderful to know that this garden will be used for many years to come, by many more boys and girls.
“I truly hope Sam’s garden allows the children to thrive and enables his memory, love and energy to always shine bright and never fade.”
The garden also contains painted pebbles decorated with positive messages, plants that are particularly attractive to wildlife and insects and a wooden seating area.
Spider Man and Spider Woman cutting the ribbon to open the garden.
Head teacher Steve Burley said: “This is an absolutely wonderful resource for all our pupils and we have set up a rota to ensure all children get an opportunity to use it. It is also perfect for targeted interventions too and is designed to stimulate all five senses.
“The garden is created in the memory of Sam who all too briefly attended our school and is remembered fondly by staff and pupils – so that makes the area even more special.
“I know that it will bring a lot of pleasure to both our pupils and also to those community groups, like the rainsbow and brownie units, that use the school after hours.”
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