Woodland Play Area

After feedback from the school, we’ve decided to focus our efforts on completing the garden where we recently installed an outdoor classroom. The garden is one of Grasmere’s most unique features, and the school is keen to have it look its best, and to allow the best play opportunity for the children. Outdoor play and access to nature are key to our children’s learning and wellbeing and we want to ensure that the space meets their needs and is full of greenery, but also tools to allow to play – and learn – differently. Transforming it with a fun, interactive play area would also mean adding some wow factor for prospective parents (the school needs to stay full to stay open), and open up rental opportunities, as the school hopes to rent out the space to complement its budget. We are currently costing things up to see how much we would need to raise on top of our existing funds to complete the project. In terms of priorities our wish list (agreed with the school) includes: a magnificent mud kitchen area as this is a favourite of all year groups; platforms around tree trunks and climbing elements (the old ones had to be removed as not safe anymore); a loose part play area containing bits and bobs to foster imaginative play such as den building; and also a bin, whiteboard, garden shed, and outdoor resource shed for staff to help them take their class to the garden as often as possible. The idea is not to take too much space with a giant structure, but to leave kids room to make up their own games, build things and use their imagination.