Nature Space - Newtown Community Primary School

Setting the Scene

We have worked with Newtown Primary School in Trowbridge for many years developing their extensive outdoor space. Along with a recent MUGA installation and separate Kickabout Area, the school were also aware of the need to provide space for reflection in quieter space within their outdoor grounds. Newtown Primary School had a good-sized, unused area where many years ago there used to be a pond with the ground now having drainage issues.

The pond was situated beneath mature trees and overgrown Bamboo!

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Customer Objectives

We were invited to re-design and revitalise this area into a Quiet Garden suitable for Free Play and Outdoor Learning. Within this design we were to include plans to deal with poor drainage and the overgrown nature of the existing space.

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Our Solution

Our initial consideration was to make the area safe and clear out unnecessary planting and branches and to level the whole area. From this blank canvas, we designed a space that would be:

Inviting to enter, with each of the three entrances having a bespoke Robinia Timber Archway
Low maintenance, addressing the sites existing drainage issues
Inclusive, through the use of a variety of surfaces including a resin bound gravel pathway, slate for texture and bark within the borders to minimise weed growth
Ideal for outdoor learning, through the use of Play Grass surfacing which is perfect to sit, read or socialise on
Playful, with two Timber Play Huts with Benches that encourage a space for discussion, reflection and learning
Safe, through the use of a Timber Play Fence to divide the Kickabout active zone from the Quiet Garden.

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