Improving an orchard for St Bernardettes School in Brighton

We were approached by St Bernardettes School in Brighton, Sussex with the challenge of restoring and improving an old orchard area and pond within the school grounds. The brief was to build a peace garden where the children could get involved with the orchard and its conservation, with a special emphasis on several areas allow the pupils to be taught as a group.

The design was drawn up with the teaching staff and works commenced. The pond was cleared and re-excavated. A butyl liner and hard block edge were fitted into the pond and a timber decking area was constructed to form a 'dipping' platform for the children.

A meandering path was constructed through the orchard leading to two separate areas, the outdoor classroom and a story telling area. These two areas were conceived and built with the nature of their individual functions at the forefront.
The classroom area was formal and open with sleeper benches arranged around a decked area, allowing the area to be used for talks and small outdoor productions alike.
The second area was to be a mystical story telling sunken into the orchard floor area with natural log seating. This was achieved by reduce digging the site and placing locally sourced materials for the seating and floor.

Pond with decked 'dipping' platform

Before work started...

And after completion...

Story telling area

Before work started...

And after completion...

Outdoor classroom

Before work started...

And after completion...
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