Sustainable Sensory Garden and Outdoor Classroom at Bradley Primary School, Nelson

School profile

ESP Play had worked with the school previously, so when Headteacher Sharon wanted to refurbish the garden, she contacted the team to discuss the project.

The school had recently started a sustainability project and wanted the new garden to incorporate environmentally friendly features while creating more opportunities for outdoor learning, gardening, sensory play and exploring nature.

Like many schools in the local area, Bradley Primary has limited natural outdoor space. The school does not have a traditional school field, with much of its outdoor area made up of tarmac.

The garden therefore presented an important opportunity to introduce more greenery and create a natural, sensory environment where children could connect with nature.

The challenge

The school had previously developed the garden themselves, but the timber structures had started to rot and the area had become unsafe.

As a result, the space was no longer being used by the children.

Sharon could see the potential of the existing garden and wanted to invest in transforming it into a safe, accessible and engaging outdoor learning environment.

The main aim was to make the garden as green and natural as possible, with a particular focus on planting pollinator-friendly flowers and providing plenty of opportunities for the children to grow plants.

The school also wanted the garden to feel like an extension of the playground rather than a separate area.

Previously, the garden had been enclosed behind a gate, making it feel disconnected from the main playground. The new design needed to encourage children to use the space more freely.

There was also a second, previously unused area at the bottom of the garden. This space was on a different level and was inaccessible from the original garden. It was covered in tarmac, but the school had received grant funding specifically to help transform a grey space into a green one.

The school wanted to make use of this additional funding to extend the garden and create even more opportunities for outdoor learning and play.

The solution

A sustainable school sensory garden, outdoor classroom and nature area.

ESP Play created a bespoke garden design that maximised the available space and incorporated a wide range of natural, sensory and educational features.

The completed school garden includes:

• An open trellis archway entrance
• A sensory pathway
• Bespoke timber steps
• Raised planting beds
• Planters with trellises
• A living wall
• An Investigation Table
• A Wormery
• A Butterfly Box
• An Insect Habitat
• A Ladybird Tower
• A Sensory Habitat Wall
• A Switch Weather Station
• A bespoke outdoor classroom
• Tiered classroom seating
• Mark-making boards
• A mud kitchen
• A new grassed area
• A wildflower planting area

The design makes use of the available space at different levels, turning previously underused areas into functional spaces for learning, gardening, nature exploration and play.

Creating a Sustainable School Garden

Sustainability was at the heart of the project.

The school wanted to create an environment where children could learn about nature and develop an understanding of sustainability through practical activities.

Raised planters and growing areas provide opportunities for children to plant flowers and vegetables, while trellises allow climbing plants to grow upwards and make better use of the available space.

A bespoke living wall was also introduced to maximise planting opportunities in an area where floor space was limited.

The school specifically wanted to encourage pollinators, so a range of wildlife habitats were incorporated into the design. The Butterfly Box, Insect Habitat, Ladybird Tower and Sensory Habitat Wall will provide opportunities for children to observe insects and learn about the important role they play in the natural environment.

The garden will also form part of Bradley Primary’s wider sustainability plan, with children from the school’s Eco and Gardening Clubs helping to maintain the space and keep it looking its best.

Creating a Sensory Garden for Children

With limited natural outdoor space elsewhere in the school grounds, creating a sensory garden was particularly important.

The sensory pathway runs through the garden, providing different textures for children to experience as they move through the space.

The Investigation Table provides another opportunity for sensory exploration and outdoor learning. Complete with a magnifying glass, it allows children to examine insects, leaves and other natural discoveries at close range.

The range of planting, habitats and sensory features means the garden offers children opportunities to explore nature using different senses while developing their curiosity and understanding of the world around them.

A New Outdoor Classroom

The school also wanted to replace an existing outdoor shelter that had started to rot.

The old shelter wasn’t being used because it did not provide enough seating for a full class of 30 children. This meant teachers were unable to take whole groups outside and use the shelter effectively for outdoor lessons.

ESP Play designed and installed a bespoke outdoor classroom with enough tiered seating to accommodate an entire class.

The classroom also includes mark-making boards and is fully enclosed, helping to protect children from the elements.

The new outdoor classroom can therefore be used throughout the year, giving teachers a dedicated space for outdoor lessons, group activities and learning outside the classroom.

Making Better Use of the Available Space

One of the biggest opportunities within the project was the unused area at the bottom of the existing garden.

The space was separated by a level change and covered entirely in tarmac, meaning it was not being used by the children.

With additional grant funding available to turn a grey area into a green space, the school decided to extend the project into this area.

The existing tarmac was removed and replaced with turf, immediately creating a greener environment.

An area of soil was retained so the children could plant wildflowers, while new steps were installed to provide access between the two levels.

The school also requested a mud kitchen for the new area.

The mud kitchen provides another practical outdoor workspace where children can experiment with mud, water, natural materials and planting as part of imaginative and sensory play.

Safety Considerations

Safety and accessibility were important considerations throughout the design.

The previous garden had become unsafe as the existing timber structures deteriorated. These were replaced as part of the wider garden transformation.

The level change within the garden was also carefully considered. Bespoke steps made from wooden sleepers were installed to provide access between the different levels.

In the lower section of the garden, additional steps were introduced to connect the newly created green space with the main garden.

The open archway entrance also improves accessibility to the garden. By removing the feeling of a separate, gated area, children can now move between the playground and garden more freely.

The new outdoor classroom provides an enclosed space where children can continue outdoor learning in different weather conditions, helping the school make greater use of its outdoor facilities throughout the year.

Installation

ESP Play worked with Bradley Primary School to transform the existing garden while making the most of every available area.

The old, deteriorating structures were removed and the garden was redesigned to introduce new planting areas, sensory features, wildlife habitats and learning spaces.

The sensory pathway was installed through the main garden, with raised planters and trellises positioned throughout the space to maximise growing opportunities.

A bespoke timber step was created to address the existing level difference, while the open archway entrance created a more welcoming connection between the playground and garden.

The existing outdoor shelter was replaced with the new bespoke outdoor classroom, providing enough tiered seating for a full class of 30 children.

The previously unused lower section was then transformed by removing the tarmac and introducing turf, a wildflower planting area, new access steps and a mud kitchen.

A living wall was also installed to maximise planting opportunities where floor space was limited.

The installation team worked efficiently throughout the project, taking care to leave the site clean and tidy.

The outcome

A greener, more sustainable outdoor learning environment.

The completed project has transformed Bradley Primary School’s existing garden into a vibrant, multifunctional outdoor space where children can learn, play, grow plants and explore nature.

The school now has a dedicated environment for:

• Outdoor learning
• Gardening and growing
• Sensory exploration
• Wildlife observation
• Forest and nature-based activities
• Imaginative play
• Eco and sustainability projects
• Outdoor lessons
• Children’s wellbeing

The new garden provides much-needed natural space within a school where the majority of the outdoor environment is tarmac.

Children can now move freely between the playground and garden through the open archway, making the garden feel like an extension of their everyday outdoor play environment.

The new planting areas and living wall make maximum use of the available space, while the wildlife habitats encourage insects and pollinators into the garden.

The outdoor classroom also gives teachers the opportunity to take a full class of 30 children outside for lessons and activities, regardless of the weather.

Most importantly, the children have embraced the transformation.

Headteacher Sharon was delighted with the finished garden, saying she was “over the moon with the new garden and the service received throughout.”

She added that the installation team “worked really hard, arriving early every day and left no mess at all. It looks amazing and the children love it!”

The garden will continue to develop as the children from Bradley Primary’s Eco and Gardening Clubs plant, grow and maintain the space as part of the school’s sustainability plan.

School testimonial

“We are over the moon with the new garden and the service received throughout. The installation team worked really hard, arriving early every day and left no mess at all. It looks amazing and the children love it!

I will be letting other Headteachers know who carried out the work and would fully recommend ESP Play. We would certainly work with them again with no hesitation.”

Sharon, Headteacher, Bradley Primary School