Meet Patsy and Madi!

Each Thursday, a quiet pair of visitors wander into the Secret Garden, taking in the sights, the textures, scents and sounds. It's an expedition led by 11 year-old Madi and her mother, Patsy.

Madi is home-schooled. She finds the Secret Garden a far more conducive learning environment than the traditional classroom. Students with unique learning styles find the safe learning environment of the Secret Garden a source of solace and positive "outdoor classroom" experiences, This is in contrast with the busy and sometimes noisy environment of the traditional school classroom setup, where students with special needs sometimes struggle to achieve the best possible learning outcomes.

In the relative safety of our shady potting shed, Madi and Patsy enjoy the educational and social task of transferring young plants to larger pots, assisted by a volunteer. This is an activity that stimulates social interaction but in an indirect manner over a fun task, which may help children who have experienced social anxiety to feel confident in social settings. Sensory stimulation is another benefit to horticultural activities, especially when working with fragrant herbs and vegetables.

To enquire about visits for kids, call our Co-ordinator on 0414 784 460.