North Oxfordshire academy, SEND garden

We are local tattooists from the Fat Rabbit tattoo studio in Banbury Oxfordshire. We often do murals for the community and are very passionate about art.

we met Carly, a teacher at North Oxfordshire academy, as a customer at our studio. Since getting to know her she told us about how she does forestry classes for students with special educational needs. She asked us to paint her a mural for her SEND garden (special educational needs and disabilities). While looking at the garden area we saw that they lacked funding and basic equipment to keep the garden in shape. Carly told us about the metal storage unit within the garden space that has a large hole in the roof. The school cannot provide funding for the roof where they should keep their equipment and basic essentials for the up keep of the SEND garden and forestry area. Within their SEND garden they have chickens and are looking into getting goats and potentially some smaller animals for this garden area.

This is important to us as we love giving back to the community as well as providing some bright art in the mean time. The owner of The Fat Rabbit, Jonathan has family members who have learning disabilities which is why we feel this garden is very important to students with these difficulties.

They were quoted £500 for the fix of the hole in the roof. All money we raise will go towards fixing the hole in the roof and what ever is left will go towards equipment for the SEND garden.

This is what Carly has stated:

So the garden is used by all students but has a particular focus around the enrichment for our SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) and SEMH (social ,emotional and mental health) students.

We are trying to develop the area so that our shed is secure and protected from the weather. We would like to have more plants/animals and to have better access. Our hope is that overall it can be a bright, warm, sensory space that can be fully utilised and enjoyed by All students.