To have an outdoor classroom right next to the woodland area in school. to be used as part of outdoor education of the natural world
by sclaxton in Penzance, Cornwall, United Kingdom
Any extra funding will go into buying items to make more boxes/ educate students in more things woodland. there has been talk of making some information signs about what is growing where and some identification pictures can then be added to this as well as animal information boards
This crowdfunder is to create the actual sitting space for the outdoor classroom.
This will involve putting in a land drain as the area is currently very boggy. Then creating a horseshoe shaped bund with a seating ledge on the inside. 7m diameter and 1.2m high. Granite floor inside and lots of planting and cervices creating on the outside of the bund to make it a great habitat. most of the funds for this are for the drain and bund granite floor. The rest of the money would buy the materials for the portal and also buy plants etc to create habitats.
Our students are very aware of the natural world and the impact humans can have on it. This project is being lead by them, this is what they want to achieve for students in school and those who will join us for years to come.
The eco and wildlife groups have been working so hard to keep the woodlands, clear and open and supporting the wildlife in there. They have built bat, bird and hedgehog boxes and can’t wait to find out how to create other wildlife homes within the horseshoe shaped grass seating mounds which will create the main structure for our outdoor classroom.
A note from the artists who have been working with the students:
We have been developing ideas with a number of groups of students who would like to have more chance to use the beautiful wild woodland in the grounds of their school and encourage more staff and students actively to connect with nature. With them we have designed a wild welcome space and portal to help students to calm and focus before entering the woodland, the habitat of a wide range of creatures. As a result of our initial consultations, the school, with support from Cornwall Wildlife Trust is building a horseshoe sheltering bund with integrated seating, which can be used as an introductory space for entering the wood, or a classroom space at the edge. The portal we will be creating, will be covered in mosaic: – mirrors, to reflect the students entering, and ceramic watching eyes, inspired by the many creatures who dwell in the wood.
The project picture is the inspiration, it is what our students are aiming for!