June 2010

Landscaping and extensive school grounds provide children and young people opportunities for healthy exercise, creative play and a unique connection with the natural world.

In this article the UK’s leading trade association for the Landscape Industry the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) takes a look at a successful school grounds regeneration project.

Lying at the heart of the St Paul’s Cathedral precinct St Pauls Cathedral School, London provides co-education for 40 choristers and nearly 200 day pupils ranging from 4-13 years. Land Use Consultants in partnership with BALI members Bowles & Wyer were commissioned to transform the school’s playground. The project was unusual for a school project as the school itself is housed within a Grade II listed building designed, the playground is also an important archaeological site, incorporating the site of a medieval parish church re-built by Wren after the Great Fire of 1666 and now represented above ground only by its by its tower (Grade I), the site having been bombed in 1941.

The architects, Land Use Consultants were presented with the difficulty of creating a design in the school grounds which did not disturb or damage any surviving below ground archaeological features. Principal of Land Use Consultants Jennette Emery-Wallis explains 'The challenge of the project was to be respectful of the site and its rich cultural heritage - above and below ground, as well as create a natural and stimulating play environment for the school' The scheme was designed and constructed based on a series of pre-aged dig depths, following trail pit investigations overseen by MoLAS. From the first meeting with the client it was clear in order top make this project work there had to be a strong team effort between the landscape architect, client, archaeologists and Bowles & Wyer.

Land Use consultants played upon the schools rich history which inspires the play theme of an ‘abandoned stone mason’s yard’ to help interpret and illustrate the site’s important and unique story, and also help stimulate imaginative role and fantasy play amongst the children.

Difficulties arose within the construction of the garden for landscape contractors Bowles & Wyer due to the location and access to the site, however the continuous co-operation and assistance with the school significantly helped the progress of the project. The contractors worked on site during the summer holiday break inititally to create as little disturbance to the running of the school, when the children returned to school in September the children were able to rotate break times and use a smaller secondary space for break times.

Red route parking restrictions and minimal loading space surrounded the school, creating a limiting working area for the Bowles & Wyer team, making site deliveries and material movements challenging. The majority of bulk materials were delivered on small trucks and the larger items, such as play equipment, trees and hedging were delivered to site very early in the morning. Bowles & Wyer Contracts Managing Director Dan Riddleston recalls the problems of working with hard to access sites ‘On one occasion when unloading the play equipment at 5.00am we were approached by the police, thinking we were going to be asked to stop unloading, however, in what typified the sprit of the project the officers rolled up their sleeves and helped us get the equipment unloaded in double quick time.’

Timber based play equipment was chosen to form a balanced mix of pieces for the difference in ages of the pupils to allow challenge and interest for each age group, and natural play bark for safety surfacing. Planting in the scheme within the play area was also crucial to this project to create a sensory environment for the children as well as a fitting setting for the surrounding buildings. Low espalier fruit trees were planted between the new terraces to create a green barrier and lend a medieval feel to the space, together with softer touches with the addition of lavender and rosemary planting.

The regeneration of this project presented many problems in both stage of design and construction, however these problems were overcome by a successful working relationship, through regular progress meetings involving the client and keeping the client aware of any issues or problems that arise in due course which could effect the completion date. Keeping the client informed meant that this information could be relayed to the teaching staff and children, who of course were desperate to get access to the playground as soon as possible.

The school playground was formally opened by the Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral in November 2009, and has proven to be greatly popular with the pupils of the school. The success of this project started when the school appointing a first class design team and completed by a professional and competent contractor.