Growing an Inclusive Space

We are delighted to share that The Forktree Project has been awarded a grant from the Office for Autism to support the planning and creation of a Native Sensory Garden within our Rare Seed Orchard.

This new space will become an integral part of our education program. The garden will feature native plants valued by First Nations people for food, medicine, and practical use, alongside species selected for their sensory qualities—inviting visitors to touch, smell, observe, and connect. It will offer a hands-on, immersive way to experience the importance of these plants and the knowledge they carry.

The garden will also play an important role in conservation, serving as a living seed bank to support the propagation and protection of these species through the Forktree Project Nursery.

At its heart, the Native Sensory Garden is being created as a place of calm. It will offer neurodivergent visitors—both children and adults—a gentle, welcoming environment where they can step away, regulate, and reconnect. In what can sometimes be an overwhelming day in a busy group, this space will provide a quiet refuge grounded in nature.

We believe deeply in the restorative power of time spent outdoors, and particularly in the quiet, meaningful connection that comes from caring for the natural world. At the same time, we recognise that wide open or unfamiliar spaces can feel challenging for some. This garden is designed with that in mind—a more enclosed, sheltered space where visitors can pause, breathe, and experience nature in their own way.

We are grateful to the Office for Autism for supporting this vision of a more inclusive Forktree Project. And thank you for the training delivered to all grant recipients, including The Forktree Project – it will be invaluable as we plan and create our inclusive space.

We look forward to welcoming visitors of all ages into the Native Sensory Garden as it grows.

Watch this space!