Capel Manor College - Outdoor Classroom

VolkerHighways donated plant, materials and expertise to help create a garden in conjunction with other stakeholders and the designers.

The classroom is used to educate students and visitors of all ages.  By demonstrating the wildlife/landscape aspects of BREEAM, the project helps to improve understanding of important ecological issues.

When not in use by children the garden is opened to the public as a part of the college's existing gardens.

The garden combines paths and paving which are environmentally friendly, demonstrating porous sustainable urban drainage, planting to suit different conditions and raised beds with plants for medicinal use. The garden includes an African style vegetable patch, a bamboo tunnel, an imagination dome made from living willow, a willow pond with bridge and dipping area, two small fountains, water conservation/irrigation features, composting area, work benches, seating areas and timber cabin classroom and decking.

The layout and wide variety of materials, finishes and interfaces required a detailed sequence plan and careful setting out, with close supervision of the installation of each section.