A GARDEN of reflection at Le Rondin School should be completed by the summer. After an extensive fundraising effort, work on the garden, which is at the back of the school, began during the October half-term holiday. Lagan Construction Group donated time and resources to clear the area, which was under-utilised.
A GARDEN of reflection at Le Rondin School should be completed by the summer.
After an extensive fundraising effort, work on the garden, which is at the back of the school, began during the October half-term holiday. Lagan Construction Group donated time and resources to clear the area, which was under-utilised.
‘It’s a real sun trap but was underused and so we decided to create a garden of reflection. There may be children who come to Le Rondin who have a shorter life expectancy. The garden will be used as a place where we can remember them and also provide pupils with a quiet place to enjoy and an outside area to learn in,’ said headteacher Paula Sullivan.
The garden is the last community project being undertaken by Lagan Construction Group before work on the airport ends and the company leaves the island.
‘Le Rondin has been one of our neighbours over the last few years and we know how much the children have enjoyed seeing the tractors and machinery being used in and around the airport. When we were asked if we could help them clear and prepare the area being used for the garden of reflection, we had no hesitation in saying yes,’ said Keiran McIlhatton from Lagan Construction Group.
‘We have made a number of donations of both time and materials while we have been in the island and our aim has always been to support projects that create a lasting legacy. We hope that the work we have done at Le Rondin will provide the school with a unique place which will be enjoyed by pupils for many years to come.’
Mrs Sullivan said it was fantastic to see the work finally start but that it wouldn’t have been possible without the support of so many people.
‘Funds raised in memory of Callum Eborall, who was a pupil of Le Rondin, have been used to buy a water feature, Aid Reaching Children has provided us with a fantastic seating area from money raised by the Santa Fun Run, Lovell Ozanne has given their time to design and project manage the project and we have used the money from the Guernsey Press and Moonpig Cash4Schools initiative to cover additional costs,’ she said.
‘We have also had local contractors offering to help with things like plumbing and electrics – the support has really been overwhelming. Seeing the work that Lagan has done over the half term makes it all the more real and everyone at the school is looking forward to seeing it finished.’
Planting of the new garden will be undertaken in the spring and a pebbled area has been included in the plans which will allow anyone connected with the school the chance to write the name of a loved one on one of the stones.
Anyone wanting to find out more about the project and what work is still required can contact Mrs Sullivan on 268300.