Waimea Primary School Nature Play Space

Waimea Primary School Nature Play Space

Department of Education

Inspiration

Children thrive when regularly immersed in nature, with the outdoors being a powerful learning environment. In recent times, schools have moved away from set piece playgrounds to nature play spaces that offer diverse, physically challenging sensory outdoor settings where children can creatively interact with a diversity of natural materials.

Outcomes

The nature play space at Waimea Heights Primary School was the first of its kind for a Department of Education School in Tasmania.

The area is configured around an 80 year old redwood and several other advanced trees. The resulting atmosphere sets the stage for an imaginative play experience.

The play space incorporates a water feature, mud kitchen, sand play, a tricycle track, lawn, mulch and garden spaces, balance logs, seating and a much loved piece of recycled equipment from the former playground — while responding to concerns for technical and practical resolution that assured buildability, longevity and the safety of users.

The layout also incorporates ‘Mirror House’ by Judith Abell and Georgina Freeman which is now a centrepiece to the area.

Recognition

Since its construction, the nature play space at Waimea Primary School has become the benchmark to which many other institutions aspire.

The success of the playground is seen in the high degree of use from the moment of its creation. Children never tire of the play opportunities, some don’t even want to go home!

Photography: Paul Redding