Michael Rosen Donates a Poem to be Translated Into Braille for RNIB

                    

                            

A giant braille poem will form an integral part of the RNIB Garden for children with sight loss, unveiled at this year's Chelsea Flower Show. The poem was written by children's author Michael Rosen, entitled Hand on a Bridge. Rosen will also be going to see the display on Monday 23rd May.

Visitors will be invited to feel the braille poem which reflects the overall theme of sight loss and children. It is hoped that this will prompt thought and discussion about the simple tools blind and partially sighted people use in order to live a fulfilling life. As well as including braille, garden designer Hervey-Brookes focuses on touch, scent and sound by using materials that have textural qualities, left in as natural a state as possible such as planed green oak, reclaimed Cotswold stone and Aberdeen granite. 

The extract from Michael Rosen's poem:

Hand on the bridge

Feel the rhythm of the train

Hand on the window

Feel the rhythm of the rain

Hand on your heart

Feel the rhythm inside

Hand on your life

Feel the rhythm of time 

The RNIB Garden celebrates the redevelopment of one of the charity's most cherished services, RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning. The Centre provides individualised care, education and therapies to children with complex needs and sight problems, who inspired the theme of the garden - the experience of the senses.

After the show, the garden will form a central part of the outdoor space at the RNIB Pears Centre and will be enjoyed by young people with complex needs and sight problems day after day.

This is the second time that Paul Hervey-Brookes has designed a garden for RHS Chelsea Flower Show. In 2010 Paul designed a garden exploring the theme of biodiversity from Bradstone and was awarded a Silver Medal.

The 2010 RHS Chelsea Flower Show runs from 24-28 May 2011.

The RNIB Garden site number is RHW35

The RNIB Garden has been funded by generous donations from a number of RNIB suppliers including Zurich, Bates Wells & Braithwaite and Walters Office World.

Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is the UK's leading charity offering information, support and advice to almost two million people with a sight problem. It is estimated that at least 30 per cent of people with complex needs may have a sight problem. RNIB works to radically improve the life chances of people who are blind and partially sighted and have learning disabilities.

For more information about Michel Rosen visit  www.michaelrosen.co.uk

For further information on Paul Hervey-Brookes please visit http://www.paulherveybrookes.com/