Here at Plus Landscpe we have a very good record of designing and implementing improvements to school grounds. Most often this is usually in the form of creating space within the grounds that go hand in hand with elements of the curriculum. Most often this is for science/ environmental studies, and is usually the creation of a nature area including a pond.
Otherwise it is improvements to access - pathways, or play equipment - and excersice based themes - such as 'mile trail' tracks, trim trails,etc.
It can also be for safeguarding purposes - such as improvements to school boundary and perimiter fencing - or it could be improving draiange to sportfields - or creating new, segregated safer vehicle access and/ or parking for staff.
We have a great knowledge of what schools and thier budgets allow. We work hand in glove with school with Business Managers as well as Head Teachers to realise thier vision.
We can also undertake work to aid the school in its obligations towards health & safety reviews by way of Tree Health Surveys, and also of reducing bills for disposal of surface water by incorporations of Sustainable Drainage Systems which have been known to reduce some schools by an entire cost band for these charges by significantly reducing the amound of estimated and metered surface water taken off site.
Many play equipment companies can see schools as a source of limitless income and often reflect this in thier costs, whilst selling a 'complete package' of supply and installation works.
However much of the material is fabricated eleswhere - often abroad - and bought in. The workmanship is thus often is not as high as it could be - especially on longevity of materal, but also on areas that require consideration of issues like finger traps, tamper proof fixings and softening of sharp edges etc;
Allowing instead an experienced Landscape Architect such as Plus Landscape to properly design/specify and tender, as well as professionally contract manage projects for school grounds, gives much more competataive opportunities and control of the works - reducing costs and keeping in line with best practice and RoSPA approved Health & Safety Guideleines and also relieving the School of the CDM Designers responsibilities. ( please see our Services section on this under Contract Administration - it is very important).
Imagintion in design is also a strong requirement rather than simply 'off the shelf' manufacturedsupplies - to help stimulate environments where children want to be and to adopt as thier own space for development of play and excersice. Plus Landscape also take re cycling of materials very strongly in to consideration in the creation of these spaces and always design with a long term use in mind, making these items part of the overall fixtures and fittings of the school for many years to come.
