Worcestershire
Back to projects
Harvington First School Landscape
Precedent outdoor development over 25 years
- Price Range
- Design
- Preparation
- Build
- Today c. £125,000
- 2 weeks
- 2 weeks
- 8 weeks
Project Overview
In 2000, Guy was asked by the school to design an ‘adventure play area second to none’ on their empty school field. The field then had one oversized football pitch on it. The parish council donated an additional slice of ex-allotment land which enabled enough space for a smaller, and more practical football pitch. This allowed for a landscape development involving passages and trails, hills and tunnels, outdoor learning areas, wildlife habitat…and a lot of trees. To add clarity to the more ‘wild’ landscape, and inspired by the design of medieval town centres, a cedar shingled hexagon gazebo and a may pole/flag pole/weathervane was erected to represent the ‘hollow enclosure’ and ‘vertical symbol of congregation’.
The photo sequence below shows how the site developed over a period of 25 years. We were lucky to work with Helen Fishbourne who became Headteacher after Marcia Palmer left. Helen has been at the school for over 25 years and has recently achieved a third consecutive outstanding ofsted report.
Result
“The planning process was critical to us, as we started with a blank field! When we began our grounds development process in 2001, I was deputy headteacher at the school, and now as Headteacher, having seen the grounds evolve over 20 years, I truly believe it helps staff teach, and children learn. What better opportunities are there other than learning outdoors in a beautiful setting?
Your (LoG) design and planning enabled us to cleverly utilise all areas, so they were exciting, accessible and provided learning intentions for all our children. Many of the spaces are multi-functional and can be used at play, for learning and to develop nature. They are continuously evolving too. Your selection and placement of both deciduous and evergreen trees has created an exciting and inspirational backdrop for the school; and there are all year opportunities for learning, play and gathering nature’s free gifts.
“Our outdoor space is still as important as ever to us. There are planned learning sessions each week. These are forest school type activities or planned learning intentions using all curriculum areas, where staff use the outdoor areas to engage the learners. The children enjoy their learning, and the use of the outdoor areas is a large part of this. The development of our grounds has also enhanced children’s understanding of nature as we have planned and developed our bug hotels, log areas, grown trees, added nesting boxes, developed wildflower areas and planted hedgerows. This connection to nature is important and the children are learning to live in harmony with nature and respect that nature has a right to thrive too.”
Helen Fishbourne, Headteacher. Harvington CofE First School, Evesham, WR11 8NQ
The raised mound in 2002 was a centre piece for running and chasing games.
The mound, same view 2011. The maturing landscape encourages more imaginative, role play type games, as well as the running and chasing.
