Whatever the adult mind can imagine, you can count on a child to come up with something just as good.
Anderson's Bay School teachers Lizzie Potter and Geoff Markby came up with some good ideas for the school's new ''playscape'', but it wasn't until the
pupils were given an opportunity to add their vision, that the playground took real shape.
''We had our own ideas,'' Mrs Potter said.
''Fortunately, the kids had the same ideas and it all came together.
''It was all inspired by what the children wanted for themselves.''
But now, the area has an amphitheatre (an open-air venue which could be used for school performances and possibly assemblies on warm days), a climbing wall and slide, Meerkat Mountain (complete with tunnels), a manual water pump that pupils can use to run water over a terraced waterfall on Meerkat Mountain, two large sandpits, native bushes and trees (including an edible garden), shingle, boulders, and logs for the children to climb on.
Mr Markby said the aim of the development was to create a play area with a natural environment that pupils could interact with.
''We wanted a hands-on approach. Rather than plastic and steel bars, we wanted to have something natural which was aesthetically pleasing, and with some exciting places where a class can come out and spend a decent hour or so . . . just to get children back in touch with nature and the environment.''
He said the playscape cost about $85,000 to build. It was partly funded by several trusts, but the majority was raised by the school's PTA committee.
It had taken about two years for the project to come to fruition. Construction began six months ago and was completed recently, he said.
Because of the popularity of the new playground, Mrs Potter said each class was given 45 minutes to explore the playscape on their own, to avoid it becoming overcrowded.
''It's very popular and they've waited a long time for it to be finished. They're very excited about it.''
