The Brief: Outdoor and Play were recommended to the head teacher by Mr Roger Scales, Senior Landscape Architect at Bradford Council. The school were looking to provide a variety of activities for children in foundation, and Key stages one and two. Mr Quartermain, the head teacher, had already consulted with a number of play companies.

Lynne Roberts of Outdoor and Play explains: “I was struck by the apparent limitations of the main playground in terms of shape, layout and the location of three trees which left a dead zone behind. However I felt confident we could find a workable solution and create the playground the school were looking for. In the initial planning stages, I found myself trying to work within the constraints, placing apparatus in space which was not entirely suitable and which might cause future problems.”

Ian, our chief designer offered an alternative, if controversial solution: “By removing two of the three trees, the dead zone would be eliminated and the full extent of the space could be utilised. This would add long term benefits in terms of playground layout and management. This was not an easy proposal, especially as in my past life in agriculture and landscape I have planted thousands of trees and only ever removed dead or damaged ones. I recommended planting new trees elsewhere on site. The school were in agreement and consent was obtained from the local authority. Once the objection period had passed, work began to remove the trees, fill and tarmac the holes then create an enclosed Ball Sports area right up to the boundary of the space. This left a much bigger and better defined space for the next planned stages of development.”