This primary school in Oxford had little or no soft landscaping for the Early Years and Year One children to enjoy. We transformed the area from a sea of astro turf into an oasis of nature for play, imagination, food growing and outdoor learning.

We increased accessibility to the area and focused on micro journeys that are both physical and educational.  The first section of the garden includes two raised beds for growing fruit and veg, a water butt and trough rain garden. Through an archway a self- binding gravel path winds past immersive bio diverse perennial planting to a mini meadow where log seats and a shade sail are perfect for outdoor learning. At the end of the garden is a pallet tepee and woodland planting area.  Small ‘goat paths’ make the garden accessible to the other areas of the playground so that children can run through and experience the space from all directions. The planting scheme is rich in different zones and tall grasses and perennials that ‘tower’  over the children so that they experience a ‘’forest’ of plants.  We created many habitats and different zones from a bug hotel to small wild areas.

This garden has been shortlisted for the prestigious Society of Garden and Landscape Designers Awards 2026 which attracts thousands of entries from around the world.