SEND Students Deliver Handmade Planters to Local Community Garden

Oaklands College SEND students have taken their carpentry skills into the community, delivering a series of handmade wooden planters to Habiba Garden as part of a year-long project.

The students designed and built the planters as part of their carpentry learning, developing practical skills, creativity and teamwork along the way. The visit to Habiba Garden marked the culmination of months of hard work and gave students the opportunity to see their creations being put to use in a real community setting.

During their visit, students explored Habiba Garden and saw how their handcrafted planters will contribute to the space, helping to create an even more welcoming environment for visitors.

The experience gave students the chance to see the positive impact their skills can have on others, while providing a real sense of pride and accomplishment. It was also an opportunity to celebrate the progress they have made throughout the carpentry project and recognise the hard work that went into bringing their ideas to life.

Habiba Garden is a welcoming community space that brings women together through a shared love of gardening. Visitors can plant flowers, herbs and vegetables, care for the gardens and share their gardening knowledge, while benefiting from the positive impact of outdoor activities on wellbeing and social connection.

The garden also features a Sensations Garden, designed to provide a calming and engaging outdoor environment for visitors of all ages.

The visit also helped strengthen links between Oaklands College, Habiba Garden and the HAWA organisation.

Vicky and Katie from the Oaklands Business team joined the visit and met with representatives from Habiba Garden and HAWA to discuss potential future intergenerational and wellbeing projects involving Oaklands students.

These developing partnerships will create further opportunities for students to use their skills in meaningful community projects while contributing positively to local spaces.

A special thank you goes to Peter Searle and Tim Lebas for supporting students throughout the carpentry project, sharing their expertise and helping turn their ideas into finished planters.

Peter and Tim also created a bespoke Oaklands College sign, which now has pride of place within the garden.

Thank you also to Jane for organising the visit and giving students the opportunity to see the real-world impact of their work and celebrate everything they have achieved.

We look forward to continuing our partnership with Habiba Garden and HAWA and creating even more opportunities for our students to learn, develop their skills and make a positive contribution to the local community.