Landscaping, planting and creating a sense of place

Sometimes large-scale structures and canopies are not necessary or affordable. All that’s required to open up an area or plot of land on your site is some groundwork, levelling and the addition of surface material to make a space that’s accessible, usable and beautiful in all weathers and at all times of year. Tree canopies make their own natural and essentially free weather protection.

Then some ground clearance and tree pruning (done carefully and sensitively to protect habitats), laying of woodchip surfaces or other natural infill material, fencing to section off spaces for specific uses and then, the final flourish, to add logs or benches to allow natural gatherings to take place. Fire pits, blackboards and storage sheds/chests can also make these spaces more attractive.

Not only can this help to reclaim unloved and unused parts of your school site, but it can also provide valuable spaces for teaching, social interaction and as special calming spaces for safe interventions and for pupils to regulate their emotions.

We can also support you with planting trees and hedgerows. Rather than simply planting ‘whips’ (where the failure rate is very high), more established trees a couple of metres high can bought and delivered quite inexpensively from local suppliers. Species such as silver birch, rowan, alder, hazel, common beech and hornbeam are fast growing and of course native to the UK. Native hedgerow such as hawthorn and blackthorn make perfect borders and natural demarcations between areas. And of course, the planting is a great activity for pupils. When they are invested in their outdoor spaces, they are more likely to protect and care for them.

Designing and creating habitats with log and rock piles bird and bat boxes can also enhance these areas and invite more observable nature in to your site

No rubber crumb, artificial grass or other petrochemical materials here. Just natural spaces, nature connected with carbon capture built in. Build it and they will come (Humans and others!).