Paul Barnett has transformed the heart of Aranda Primary School into a natural, sustainable adventure garden that will change and grow along with the children.

Originally, the heart of the school was a large asphalt playground, which had become unusable.

The asphalt was removed and the surface was sculpted into three terraces. Deep trenches were carved into each terrace and lined with sand filled geotextile fabric, topped with soil, logs, granite, rocks and plants. This created a water harvested environment where children and vegetation could thrive for years to come.

The water harvesting systems has allowed water to be used to its fullest capability by hydrating an otherwise dry landscape, which increases plant growth and healthy soil. The majority of resources used are completely natural – rocks, logs, plants and plant matter, which were all sourced locally.

KEY INITIATIVES

  • Creation of a living habitat that may be studied and managed by the school children
  • Revegetation and rejuvenation of an underutilised play area
  • Supplying children with a natural landscape that facilitates interaction with nature
  • Creation of a durable, low maintenance play space that enhances motor skills with running and jumping over rocks and logs
  • Providing an enhanced habitat for birds and insects amongst the new tree canopy and rock crevices
  • Implementation of water harvesting on a large scale with water collected from the ground surface and school roofs
  • Introduction of 30 deciduous trees that will grow to 8m high and 6m wide, providing a full shade canopy in summer and an open sunny sheltered area for winter

PRODUCTS

WATER STORAGE
EDEN WATER STORAGE CRYSTALS

GEOTECH
BENTONITE IMPREGNATED GEOTEXTILE FABRIC