Turning landscaping into child's play

Landscaping can be quite an education. Nigel Benson goes digging.

When teachers at Arthur Burns Preschool in Mosgiel were planning a new outdoor area, they wanted something that would captivate their pupils; something the children would both enjoy and learn from.

The result of the $30,000 project has exceeded all expectations, according to head teacher Lyn Collins.

"It was a very ordinary playground area, with a lot of potential. We wanted to redevelop it to make it more exciting for the children and to make them more aware of their outdoor environment," she said.

"We also wanted it to be multicultural and to reflect our area and our early settlers. We wanted as many aspects of our children's culture and heritage as we could.

"We wanted the children to know about their local environment and about managing resources, like the conservation of water. The educational aspect was very important to us."

The preschool has 54 children on its roll, divided between morning and afternoon sessions.

Dunedin landscape designer Neville Stewart was invited to tender a design for the space.

"It was really a dead space - just lawn - and they wanted to do something with the play area and brought me in as a designer and consultant," he said.

"They wanted to teach the kids to have respect in all aspects of the play equipment and how they treat each other. There is also an educational aspect to it. They learn about water storage, use and where water comes from. It becomes water play for them. They also learn what happens if it doesn't rain."

Four 1000-litre tanks collect rainwater from the preschool roof and divert it into a water race which wends its way around the play area.

"They learn about the whole idea of what happens to rainwater. It combines eco-design with urban design. It's a permaculture ethos. I call it an 'eco oasis'."

Stewart has more than 30 years' experience in gardening, horticulture and landscaping. He has tended plants at the Montecillo War Veterans' Home, Invercargill Parks and Reserves, Glenfalloch Woodland Gardens and the Dunedin Botanic Garden. He has also tutored at the Wakari Herb Farm and Otago Polytechnic.

His company specialises in garden renovations, makeovers, design, management and maintenance.

The centrepiece of the design is a waka arch, designed in consultation with local iwi.