These ‘play gardens’ are creative places encouraging discovery, testing and interaction — a ‘free’ canvas for young thinkers to grow, play and learn.

Consistent with the schools vision for outdoor learning and inclusion of horticultural education into the general school curriculum, the philosophy was simple — oasis’ which stimulate senses. Two connected spaces provide an abundance of natural play opportunities, including a measured level of risk to confront students with decision making, chance, consequence and building resilience, critical steps in the development of children into young adults.

In close proximity to Second Creek, the play gardens utilise an abundance of nutrient rich soil to grow plants that interpret six micro climates found in of the Australian outback. These micro climates are experienced sequentially via meandering paths, natural landscape elements and a diverse plant palette - all contributing to exposing students to our rich horticultural legacy that include seasonality, food production and the evolution of a landscape overtime.

The gardens were constructed over a 5 month period by the school and a specialist landscape contractor. The careful sourcing, salvaging and a school community donation process supplying materials occurred to achieve maximum value from a limited budget. Whilst carefully orchestrated, the layout evolved depending on availability of materials and actual site conditions.

Creative environments such as these expose a child to a variety of different textures, colours and scents which together make a compelling learning environment of experience, encounter, action and consequence. These spaces are vital in fostering social interaction from an early age outside of the traditional classroom, also fostering social and physical interaction and an appreciation of nature and ecology. Risk is not eliminated but instead managed to encourage the development of a child’s judgement and understanding of consequence.