Disabled children across Leicestershire and Rutland will now be able to benefit from an amazing gardening facility thanks to a grant to the Phoenix Children’s Foundation, from Leicestershire and Rutland Freemasons.
The facility in Packington is where many different groups (special needs schools, children with special needs & disabilities) can access a team of miniature Shetland ponies, along with a range of small farm animals and even reindeer. There is a beautiful sensory garden and a delightful picnic area close to the animals giving the children a safe and controlled environment to enjoy. Also available to everyone is a newly installed disabled toilet facility, and a music therapy room which is proving to be very successful. The garden also includes an allotment style area where the children can grow vegetables, with raised bedding for ease of access.
The grant of £3,500 from the Masonic Charitable Foundation has helped to make this a reality.
To see the progress for themselves, W.Bro. Phil Caswell and W.Bro. Tony Sibson paid a visit to the Phoenix Children’s Foundation, where W.Bro. Tony said: “We are very pleased to be able to help The Phoenix Children’s Foundation who do such an outstanding job helping children and their families living with illness, disability or lack of opportunity.”
Anita Withers, Collections Manager at The Phoenix Children’s Foundation said:
“We are most grateful to Leicestershire and Rutland Freemason for their generous grant, which will help us to keep providing local disabled children a safe and accessible environment to learn and enjoy the importance of gardening.”