DORCHESTER students will have the chance to unwind and relax in seven new sanctuary areas.

The areas have been selected at Kingston Maurward College’s Dorchester campus to be serene spaces, each is furnished with a bench with an uplifting quote on.

The benches were created by the college’s construction students and the quotes chosen for the benches are the winning seven submitted by students in a college-wide competition.

The six-month project is the idea of Chaplain Reverend Pete Stone, student services manager Jane Russ, and head gardener Nigel Hewish.

The principle of the sanctuary areas is that students will be able to find solace, should they need to unwind and relax.

The spaces have views across the college and have been planted with herbs and flowers nearby to stimulate the senses and invoke calm.

The quotes will have QR codes next to them so students can use their smart phones to read the codes and find out more about the plants.

Reverend Stone said: “We all need time out now and then, and this is a perfect way to do it, making use of the beautiful college grounds, and encouraging people to take advantage of what’s around them.

“It’s so exciting taking part in a legacy project across the college departments for the welfare of students and staff, and something that the public can use as well.”

A competition was launched in January to find the uplifting and inspiring quotes and a huge number of students submitted ideas.

Seventeen-year-old Emma Barry chose the overall winning quote: “You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think,” from AA Milne’s Winnie the Pooh.

Animal management student Emma, said when she was fifteen she went through a difficult time, and coming across the quote by chance, she has lived by it ever since.

She said: “It’s so simple, and yet it means so much. Sometimes during a bad day it’s the simplest of things that make you feel better – even if it’s from somewhere surprising like Winnie the Pooh.

“Those words really touched me and helped me through things, and I really hope they help others too.”