Physiotherapy Garden

Last year, as the result of successful fundraising, we were able to build a physiotherapy department. Our next wish was to transform the area next to this department into a fynbos garden. Our vision was that the area becomes a place for the children to practice walking again and learn to use wheelchairs on surfaces that they would encounter in their home environments.

A keen gardener from the Netherlands, Jeannet Appel, heard about this project and spent many months researching South African plants and designing the transformation of an area covered in lawn into a colourful child friendly garden. To turn this plan into a reality she and two volunteers came to Maitland Cottage Home to “plant” the garden. In ten days of hard labour and much joviality they transformed the area into a children’s paradise. Stone paths, fruit trees, vegetables, herbs and a wide selection of mainly indigenous plants not to mention the house and “wish tent”, the transformation was amazing.

With the help of other volunteers and donors the children created colourful mosaic collages, a totem pole and painted wooden butterflies to brighten up the area.