Outdoor Learning Space at Isham Primary School; The Willows
Bringing a nature-led design to life through thoughtful construction and bespoke landscaping
We recently had the pleasure of delivering a new outdoor learning and play space at Isham Primary School, working in collaboration with Marie from Beautiful Bear Nature School, who developed the design and vision for the project.
The brief was to transform the existing outdoor area into an inspiring, practical and engaging environment where children could learn, perform, grow, socialise and connect with nature.
Our role was to take Marie’s design from concept to construction, developing the details on site and creating a robust, inviting space that would work for the school every day while retaining the natural character at the heart of the original design.
The Brief
The ambition for the project went beyond creating a traditional playground or outdoor classroom. The school wanted a landscape that could support different types of learning and activity, giving children opportunities to gather as a class, work in smaller groups, perform, garden, create and simply enjoy spending time outdoors.
A key part of the project was creating distinct areas without making the landscape feel overly structured. Instead, the different elements needed to sit naturally together and encourage children to explore and use the space in their own ways.
Building the Landscape
One of the most distinctive features of the new space is the formation of the grass-covered ‘Teletubbie hills’. These sculpted landforms introduce height, shape and interest into the landscape while incorporating seating directly into the hills.
The result is a playful feature that has more than one purpose. The hills create informal places for children to sit, gather and watch activities while also giving the outdoor space a strong sense of character.
Alongside them, we created a dedicated stage and performance area, giving pupils a focal point for performances, storytelling, presentations and imaginative play. The surrounding landscape and integrated seating help form a natural audience area, turning this part of the garden into an informal outdoor theatre.
The existing outdoor area before work began. Groundworks underway as we begin transforming the space
Learning Outdoors
To make the space work as a genuine extension of the classroom, we installed outdoor learning tables and benches, providing practical areas where teachers can bring lessons outside and children can work together in the fresh air.
A classic outdoor chalkboard adds another flexible teaching and creative element. It can be used as part of structured lessons or simply provide children with a place to draw, write and express their ideas.
These features mean the garden isn't limited to one particular activity. It can change throughout the school day depending on how teachers and pupils want to use it.
Growing and Connecting with Nature
An important part of Marie’s design was giving children opportunities to interact directly with the natural world.
We constructed raised growing beds to create an accessible gardening area where pupils can plant, grow and care for flowers, vegetables and other plants. As the garden develops through the seasons, this area will provide an ever-changing resource for practical learning about plants, food, wildlife and the environment.
Existing natural features were also embraced rather than designed around.
The established willow tree provided a fantastic opportunity to create something unique to the site. We designed and constructed a bespoke table and seating arrangement around the tree, transforming it into a natural gathering point within the garden.
The willow remains at the heart of the space, with the new seating allowing children to sit, learn and socialise beneath its canopy. It's a simple example of how thoughtful construction can work with an existing landscape rather than compete with it.
From Design to Finished Space
Projects like this require a balance between creativity and practicality. Outdoor spaces in schools need to inspire children, but they also have to withstand intensive everyday use and continue to function as the landscape matures.
Working closely with Marie from Beautiful Bear Nature School allowed us to retain the intention behind the original design while applying our construction experience to the detailing, materials and buildability of each element.
From shaping the Teletubbie hills and integrating seating into the landscape to constructing the raised growing beds, learning furniture, performance area and bespoke willow-tree seating, every part of the build contributes to the same goal: creating an outdoor environment that children genuinely want to use.
The Finished Result
The completed garden gives Isham Primary School much more than an outdoor classroom.
It is a performance space, a growing garden, a creative space, a social space and a place for exploration. Most importantly, it provides children with an environment where learning can happen naturally outside the traditional classroom.
We’re extremely pleased with how the project has come together and proud to have worked alongside Marie at Beautiful Bear Nature School and Isham Primary School to turn the original vision into a lasting outdoor learning environment.
We look forward to seeing the space develop as the planting establishes, the seasons change and, most importantly, the children make it their own.
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