Aldbury Primary School
Made from spectacular oak tree branches, it's wild natural play up close to the school playground.
This was where WildwoodUK began with our very first project. We knew a local farmer that was planning to log up and burn a huge fallen oak branch on his farm. We asked him if we could have it for a natural play project and he agreed. We went into this with the firm belief that this was a great idea for the children, for nature and the school. The difficult part was learning about the play equipment standards and creating a safe natural play area for the children. We came up with a great design that removes unnecessary risks but also challenges the norm when it comes to play equipment in schools. It seems odd but many schools in rural communities, don't have easy access to natural areas and as a result, the children inevitably spend a lot of time playing on tarmac or other artificial surfaces. The Wildwood Den at Aldbury offers that special connection to natural processes and provides risky play that encourages children to think about their safety during play.
The life in this play area is truly amazing, there are tiny deadwood beetles that live in it that wouldn't be there without the natural timber. We found newts at the base of the tree trunks between the cracks in the wood. We found the most delcate tiny fungi growing out the small holes in the wood. The children can discover all these and other creatures during play. The whole structure is surrounded by wildflower turf which provides natural beauty but also nectar and pollen sources from the native wildlfowers. Again, this is somethig rarely found in school environments.
This has become a real feature of Aldbury School and the children love the wild dimension it brings to their school life.
After the installation was complete, David Yearley -head of playsafety at RoSPA inspected the play area and he provided us with this quote which we were absolutley thrilled with.
“The Wildwood concept, as installed at Aldbury C of E Primary School, offers children a wonderful experience. They are free to engage in play and the natural environment, without being bound by the constraints of off-the-shelf playground equipment. The designer considers the principles of the playground equipment standard, so as to eliminate unnecessary risks, yet encompasses the concept of a living, changing play space.”
David Yearley
Head of Play Safety, ROSPA
Happy Customers
Read what our past clients have to say about us
We wanted a play area that would engage children and introduce them to the historical significance of our location. The design not only provides a fun and imaginative space for our little visitors but also serves as a subtle educational tool, interpreting the archaeology of the site in a way that is both engaging and meaningful.
Jacqueline Mooney
Flag Fen Archaeology Park
Megan Fleetwood
Wigginton Primary School & Nursery
The Dens are very well used and enjoyed by children of all ages encouraging them to participate in natural and creative play whilst developing their skills in climbing and balance.
Daniel du Gard
Chorleywood Parish Council