William Patten Outdoor Learning & Wildlife Garden

Aim

To create a biodiversity garden & outdoor learning space in a Hackney Primary School playground for 433 children, parents & wider community

William Patten School want to create a new permanent outdoor learning space & biodiverse gardens in 2024 to attract more wildlife in their playgrounds, to help the schoolchildren and the wider community to engage with wildlife and nature, and make the site more climate resilient.

Plans include removing 165m2 astroturf from the site; planting more native trees and borders including a sensory garden and nature play garden; introducing a new wildlife habitats including a pond; planting a medicinal herb garden so kids and community can make teas and DIY medicines; building an all-weather outdoor classroom and water recycling facilities.

Benefits include:

• Helping today and tomorrow's WP schoolchildren get closer to nature, and be better prepared to be guardians of the environment.
• Create vital new habitats for a range of urban wildlife.
• Creating new spaces the school can open up to the wider community for nature wellness & experience sessions at weekends, after-school and during holiday times.

Hackney Outdoors CIC is helping the school to plan and raise the money to get the work done. Part of our CIC purpose is to renature urban spaces, for the benefit of nature as well as people. Spending time in nature helps health and wellness, builds resilience - and is great fun!

This project successfully funded on 12th May 2024