Natural Play Scapes - Kinder Garden Design

 "Natural playgrounds should be the standard for all our playgrounds. They truly connect children with nature through play and are a sort of classroom for the next generation of environmental stewards." David Suzuki.

 I have offered to do the garden design for our local Steiner Kinder. It  has only been at this site since the start of the year. The garden is new, with some hard landscaping that has been completed recently. Consisting of a sleeper retaining wall, a timber paling fence, a concrete path and a stone walled sandpit.

Garden planting consists mainly of a few existing trees, donated shrubs, trees and herbs planted informally by the Kinder community.

 

Brief; to provide a concept plan for the kinder garden. A deep connection with nature is central to a Steiner approach to childhood. In Steiner early childhood education outdoor free-play in a natural environment is an essential component of the curriculum.
Steiner playgrounds value natural elements to entice the imagination and create spaces of wonder and awe.
   
Client Interview; These are some ideas from the teacher about her vision for the garden. Use plants with Simple child like flowers, provide screening from the road, feeling of fullness in the garden, use of natural materials, garden rooms where children can play, virginia creeper climbing on verandah, a living tee pee made from sunflowers, early autumn colour, plants that reflect the seasons, a timber climbing structure.                                                                                                                                                      
Site Inventory and Analysis; There is some existing vegetation; One mature Eucalyptus radiata? One Callistemon, a Banksia marginata and a weeping Cherry.
Newer plantings include, a lemon tree, fruit trees, tea tree,Buddleias, daisys, bulbs, herbs, seasonal veggies.     
North facing,
Prevailing North wind
Exposed
Busy Road on the North boundary
Soil type, water availability and site measurements are not known yet.
I still determining if there is an existing site plan.

 My initial ideas
 The playground should be less open, with places for the children to get away and play in peace without feeling that they are being watched over by adults.
To divide the area into a series of curved rooms, with different spaces, where the children can escape to while still allowing enough open space for children to run freely.

Screen out all of the boundary fence with plants.
Plant screening climbers such as Hardenbergia violacea along the cyclone fence back boundary to provide screening from the road.
Incorporate existing vegetation into the design, transplanting where appropriate. 
A smooth flowing design that is simple and not too busy while incorporating many of the following features;
A bamboo forest, B.oldhammi
Scarlet runner bean tee pee
Atriplex hedging to divide spaces
Herb/ kitchen garden
Muehlenbeckia complexa tunnel
Tea tree cubby or tunnel
Climber to grow on the verandah Parthenocissus quinquefolia


                                                                               

Tea Tree tunnel at the Ian Potter garden RBGM

Natural climbing frame

Sunflower house

Scarlet runner bean Teepee

bamboo forest at Ian Potter garden RBGM

Muehlenbeckia tunnel

http://earthplay.net/
http://progressiveearlychildhoodeducation.blogspot.com.au/2011/08/inspiring-waldorf-steiner-natural.html
http://www.naturalplaygrounds.ca/
http://www.wbir.com/news/article/220797/8/Natural-playground-inspires-kids-to-be-more-active