Essity Skelmersdale funds new sensory garden at Twinkle House

The new sensory garden has been funded by Essity, a leading global hygiene and health company whose brands include TENA, Tork, Cushelle, and Bodyform. Delivered by employees from Midstream Garden Centre - a local social enterprise that provides work activity, training, and day care for people with learning disabilities and other special needs - the garden serves as a dedicated learning and development space for those who come to use Twinkle House and for the local community.

Located just down the road from the Essity Skelmersdale site, Twinkle House offers access to sensory soft play, immersive rooms, a hydrotherapy pool, as well as classes and services that support wellbeing for both families and individuals. The new garden is designed to enhance these existing services, offering a calm, interactive outdoor environment that supports sensory stimulation, personal development, and relaxation.

Philip Smith, controller at Essity Skelmersdale, said:

“We’re really happy to have enabled Twinkle House to create a space that will make a real difference in our community. Giving back to communities local to our mills is a key part of our culture at Essity, whether that’s through donations, partnerships, or getting hands-on with projects like this one. We hope this garden will be a valuable addition to the valued facilities that Twinkle House offers and will be enjoyed by local families and individuals for years to come.”

Essity’s Skelmersdale mill manufactures professional hygiene products for the Tork brand and employs around 230 people. Alongside a strong focus on workplace wellbeing, the mill is dedicated to supporting community initiatives that deliver meaningful, long-term impact.

Twinkle House opened in May 2024 after a group of parents and West Lancashire Council for Voluntary Services identified the need for services available to children with special needs.

Deirdre Mitten, Centre Manager at Twinkle House, said:

“This new space will provide a welcome extension to our existing facilities, offering our users even more opportunities to learn, relax, and thrive. We’re incredibly grateful to Essity and Midstream for their support in making this possible.”

Ben Pendleton, project coordinator at Midstream Garden Centre, added:

“Building the garden has been a really rewarding experience for our team. It’s fantastic to see our work contribute to a cause that promotes wellbeing and inclusion, and to know that the garden will be enjoyed by so many in the local community.”

The sensory garden is one of several community-focused initiatives supported by Essity in Skelmersdale. The company is also a regular contributor to local food banks, provides ongoing support for local charities and partners with a local rotary club to pool local business resources for urgent community needs.

As a global leader in hygiene and health, Essity manufactures products for household brands including Cushelle, Plenty, and Tork. The company is committed to supporting both its employees and the wider communities in which it operates. In 2024 alone, Essity donated over £5.5 million worth of hygiene products to charities across the UK, reaching more than 3,300 organisations and helping improve access to essential health and hygiene resources.