We have worked with many other local schools - designing
and building schemes with the help of the school
children and always promoting positively the potential
of the school grounds.
The materials and plants we use
in each scheme always reflect our commitment to
sustainability and biodiversity.
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We've worked with Wendy Allen Designs to
create a stimulating and fun place for the reception and
nursery children using all of the sustainable materials, green
roofs, wildflower meadows and food-growing we have become
known for.
Green roof story-telling hut with local
oak and ash cladding and native wildflower planting. We also
used some of the chalky sub-soil on the roof to provide an
alternative to the commercial substrate.
This informal seating area is made from sweet chestnut logs
from our local country park. We work closely with volunteers
at the park and where ever possible try and use any
products/timber they produce; the money from the sale of these
going back to the park.
Recycled plastic is perfect for wonderful curves. Here we have
sandwiched some galvanised wire mesh to form an arch spanning
between the vegetable beds. The kids planted some peas to
climb the arch.
Wildflower meadows are a brilliant habitat to create within
schools but it is sometimes difficult to prevent them from
being trampled. Here we have used drainage pipes to lift the
meadow and bring the bugs, flowers and grass closer to the
kids.
We try to follow up our design work with a local artist. Here
Louise has worked with the children to create a sea shore
behind the new sand pit.
Mixing the play tunnels with the food growing beds proved a
big hit with the kids. It's always good to try and combine
play and learning.
At this nursery we have created shade and seating for the kids
with a living roof shelter and astro turf and recycled plastic
play benches. The plain roof is mulched with a crushed ceramic made from old sinks and
toilets.
Outdoor classroom with green wall and
wild meadow - green roof storage behind.
Herb beds and green roof building at a
local school.
As part of the Walking Bus initiative for
Schools we designed and built this new entrance to the School
using reclaimed tropical hardwood and recycled plastic. Art
work for the interpretation boards was designed by the
children.
Here we have created an environmental
garden with a stage area, an outdoor classroom and a
story-telling chair made by
Tim Germain.
The pond mosaic.
A pergola and a wild flower turf bank
with a herb bed built from recycled plastic behind..
An astro turf stage area.
The outdoor classroom with stage and
circular seating.
An outdoor classroom with sensory garden.
We started with a plain grass mound
then built a circular path bordered with a native hedge. Four
paths intersect in the centre, forming a bridge. The other two
cut beneath the bridge section.
Twelve native trees with interpretation
boards and many wild flowers were used to finish the scheme
including this herbaceous border.
Here we have created a woodland area
using native species, log piles and stag beetle habitats. The
children from the School and the local Brownie group were
involved in the planting.
New conservation pond ready to be
planted. The boardwalk is built from reclaimed dock timber and
the fence from F.S.C. timber.
'Eco-sleepers' and native / natural
planting create terraced beds and paths to replace a muddy
slope. Crushed concrete was used as a mulch.
A woodland path using Oak set in wet
pore. We have also used stone, logs and living Willow to
create a fence line. The whole area is planted with native
shrubs. Timber bull rushes are also used to create a wetland
theme.
A bike shelter featuring children's
design work and a cycle donated by one of the parents.
The roof is filled with crushed concrete and brick (a waste
product) providing an interesting substrate for a green roof
and a good habitat for invertebrates.
The living roof shed has storage facilities for the caretaker,
green roof for biodiversity and most importantly a football
net for the kids.
The previous bike shed was later
revamped to include a stage area. The mural was designed and
painted by the children.
When we were asked to design the new
garden at the Chafford Hundred Campus, the Teachers and the
children gave us a 'wish list' which included a Storage Shed,
Trike Park, Playhouse, Sand Pit, Pergola and raised beds for
planting ...
... As a Company, we always use as much
recycled or reclaimed materials as possible, as well as using
native plants - especially those local to the area of the
project. In this case we used plants for a chalk downland
habitat - plants that would have been on the site before the
School was built.
