The Grass Roof Company - Outdoor Classrooms

OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS

A permanent purpose built ‘classroom’ outside the school buildings gives teachers somewhere to teach in a more relaxed and informal atmosphere, somewhere to go on the spur of the moment as well as at set times, such as the Primary Schools (right).

Just as importantly the design gives a place to for the kids to explore during break time, eat lunch or study and can also be used by out of school clubs and during school/community days. How about sitting the classroom where the parents meet, great place to display kids work to your ‘captive’ audience.

It provides a focal point to display the school's environmental credentials.

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An outdoor classroom at Herringham school.	Herringham school close up of the flowers.	We were lucky enough to be asked to put a green roof into the wonderful new garden at the front of Norris Bank school. This garden was part funded by a Green Space conference see organized at the school by the photographer and driving force that is Jane Sebire. It was great to involved if only by adding a green roof on the shelter beautifully built by Mike.	We have designed benches for 30 children under the shade of grape vines and climbers alongside circular tables to write and bring back materials from the grounds. But we want the space to do more than just seat 30 kids. We felt it could provide a focal point for kids to perform, grow food and provide a wildlife habitat.


The green living wall behind the seating supports a range of drought tolerant species, and the herb beds each side of the path should smell great as the kids run past!	One of my favourite buildings as it combines our living roofs with an oversized teachers chair and mini green roof for the kids to look after. Both these ideas worked really well and we are now making them a part of any new work.	View of the roof of the previous outdoor classroom.	The local country park kindly supplied oak and Ash planking to clad the outside of the classroom, seating 30. The irregular edge of these planks creates gaps allowing birds and invertebrates to use the wall cavity for nesting/hibernation. We added sheep's wool and other nesting materials to further encourage animals to use this space and create a valuable habitat. The living roof has a mix of chalk downland species and grasses planted in our own substrate mix of crushed ceramics and green waste compost. We followed the build with an assembly to show the kids why we chose the materials and why it is so cool to grow plants on the roof!


We created a bio-diverse roof on this outdoor classroom by using different materials and substrate depths, to attract a wider range of plants and animals onto the roof. We included an off-cut of roof liner to produce a temporary pool and bird bath, added log piles and used crushed concrete to form drainage channels.	We have organised a regular survey by a local conservation group to monitor the wildlife, especially invertebrates, on the roof.	The seating has a backdrop of a wildflower meadow bank created with the spoil from the rest of the landscaping work. To retain this bank we have used old tyres filled with soil and planted, and above that galvanised mesh filled with various waste including sheep's wool, off cuts of recycled plastic and roof tiles. All contribute to the wildlife habitat potential of the space. In the centre of the space facing the seating is a story telling chair made from local timber that also doubles as a table.	This small classroom was built to be the perfect size for the reception class children. Teachers will need to mind their heads! The bamboo screen provides extra shade and a cosier, more private space.


The roof is our modular green roof tray system, the end caps and side fascia being made from recycled plastic.	School green roof outdoor classroom with teacher's chair.