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Case Study Two- Esh Winning
Primary School (our demo grounds! Click EWE Centre link, above)
The grounds were a blank canvas
with nothing but hardstanding and short grass.
The school is located in a small village 6 miles west of Durham. The setting is typical of many in the area, comprising a pre-war red brick building located within approximately 19,000 square metres of land. Before our involvement, the grounds (excluding a small pocket of mature wood) were flat and empty. Trespassing was an ongoing problem.
After finishing our consultation process, we advised the school to host an open evening, showing the children's work and some of the initial designs. The event stimulated several offers of help which led to the setting up of the after school Eco and Gardening Clubs. Local businesses were also persuaded to donate materials including plants, tyres and rocks for seating. The local secondary school, Prison Service and Countryside Ranger Service also got involved in realising the project.
Our final scheme for the school includes separate 'creative' and 'active' play yards; a naturalised play area; challenging commercial play trail; mixed habitat area; allotment; orchard; science and 'peace' gardens and a livestock pen. Our designs always feature a mix of bought in equipment and resources that a school can create themselves for free. For example, the after school clubs have had great fun using our information sheets to construct their own composters, habitat areas and a willow tunnel.
With our help the school has taken possession of the grounds. Trespassing is less of a problem and following our advice, vandalism has been minimal. Best of all, the resources now exist for imaginative play times, outdoor lessons and after school clubs.
