Schools
Schools
Chris apprenticed to a small school grounds development company in Manchester in the mid 90's, producing outdoor spaces for play, study, wildlife and food growing. For each project we made efforts to involve the whole school community at every stage of development; from preparing the brief, participation in the design process, and during construction and planting
Visit the site of school grounds development charity Learning Through Landscapes which champions this way of working. www.ltl.org.uk
A stimulating environment encourages child development and the outdoor spaces hold endless potential for learning and play.
We can provide your school or nursery with:
sensory gardens, gardens for any special need, fruit and vegetable beds, living willow and woven hazel structures, green roofs and walls, timber play structures and furniture, safe ponds, buggy tracks, wildlife study areas, lidded sand pits, play bark.
Also: outdoor teaching and meeting places, covered areas, fun furniture, quirky and original fences and screens, transformation of childrens' work into garden structures etc etc.
Managing the work
During an initial free consultation we will discuss the project scope and budget. Following this there is a process, which can include
- Assistance developing a clear project brief and budget. Pointers on fundraising for school grounds.
- Consultation exercises with the whole school community. These exercises can be fun and educational as well as informing the design stage.
- Site surveys (again this can be done 'in lesson'.) We can make applications on your behalf to your local planning authority for permissions relating to trees and planning applications.
- Production of initial designs, with or without child/student input. Costing and timelines. Production of working plans.
- Construction and planting with minimal disruption and mess, heightened attention to health and safety during construction, high spec high quality work.