Schools & EYFS

We create unique play spaces that enhance learning & wellbeing

Designing for educational settings is how Green Play Project began and our passion for creating quality outdoor environments for play and learning is as strong as ever. We have built over 100 play spaces within EYFS settings and primary schools across the UK, from small urban courtyard installations to whole-school playscapes.

Each playground we design is unique and we take a collaborative approach with our clients to create the best possible play space for their site, budget and needs. Find out more below about our approach, get inspired by our featured projects or contact us to get the ball rolling with your project.

A young boy balancing on logs in a backyard play area, surrounded by green bushes and a wooden fence.
Icon of a bee with wings and antennae inside an orange circle.

Natural playgrounds enhance your school’s curriculum

The bespoke playgrounds we create for schools and EYFS settings provide opportunities for physical activity, cognitive development, emotional development and social interaction; all of which improves student learning and well-being.

Natural playgrounds offer a unique learning environment that complements traditional classroom settings. The choice of timber structures, natural materials and incorporating planting encourages environmental awareness.

Physical Activity and Development:

Natural playgrounds promote physical activity through play and exploration, supporting healthy development and physical well-being. Timber climbing structures and natural elements like sand, logs and boulders encourage the development of motor skills, coordination and agility. Physical activity can help children burn off energy and improve their ability to focus and concentrate in the classroom

Social and Emotional Development:

Many natural playground activities encourage children to work together, collaborate and develop their social skills. The open-ended nature of natural playgrounds allows children to engage in imaginative play, develop their creativity and express themselves in a variety of ways. Overcoming challenges and taking appropriate risks in the playground can help children build confidence, self-esteem and resilience. Engaging with open-ended play structures and natural elements provides opportunities for children to develop problem-solving skills and learn about risk management.

Environmental Awareness and Responsibility:

Exposure to natural environments can foster a deeper appreciation for nature and a sense of connection to the environment. Our natural playgrounds are designed to incorporate sustainable materials and practices, teaching children about the importance of environmental conservation. Merging education with play can leave a lasting impression on children, nurturing a sense of environmental responsibility. 

A young boy jumps in a sandbox at a playground, holding a blue shovel, with a wooden fence and playground equipment in the background.

“We’ve worked with a few companies over the years. Green Play Project has stood out as exceptional – I was really impressed with the quality of finish and their level of care. I loved their level of perfectionism”


Christine Davy, Headteacher, Brooklands School

We create bespoke play and learning spaces for EYFS, KS1, KS2 and Special Education Schools

Explore a selection of our Projects below

A young girl with blonde hair playing near a wooden playground structure with a slide, colorful bunting, and sand at the base, with a blue fence and greenery in the background.

Project 01. EYFS

Knowle West Children’s Centre, Bristol

Whilst undertaking a major build to expand the buildings, Knowle West Children’s Centre commissioned Green Play Project as principle contractor to design and install a practical, flexible new garden that was inspiring and engaging for all ages whatever the weather.

The play equipment is all bespoke for this project and fits into the existing topography to provide all aspects of natural play with loose parts, climbing, swinging and crawling elements. It also appeals to a wide age group being non-prescriptive and free flowing. A main feature is the 50m dry river bed scattered with limestone boulders set in a large sand pit. It allows children to learn about water and be able to manipulate it in a playful manner.

see full project
A playground with green mounds, wooden climbing structures, and ropes in front of a modern white school building on a partly cloudy day.

Project 02. KS1 & 2

Minerva Primary Academy, Bristol

Green Play Project won the tender to develop the new school grounds at Minerva Academy in Bristol. Having only had a simple tarmac playground in the old school, our client was very keen to introduce more variety of surfaces with changes in level to create a new landscape. The new playscape was built in three phases over a period of 18 months and was completed in March 2020. 

The landscape provides journeys and pathways to connect the spaces, passing over mounds, along boardwalks and paths, and through natural planted areas, allowing the children to explore the site however they choose. Our main aim was to create a space of variety that allows children to develop skills and use their imaginations.

see full project
Two rope swings with circular seats hanging from wooden posts on a playground, surrounded by a green rubber surface and trees in the background.

Project 03. Special Education School

The Rise, Feltham

We developed this playground specifically for autistic children age 11-18 at London school, The Rise. The playground is organised into a series of active and quiet zones that allow the children plenty of opportunities to actively engage or take time out as required. It was important to include plenty of restful spaces away from the buzz and noise of the main playground to allow children have an opportunity to regain control of their feelings and emotions. We consulted with the School Council during the design process to include their thoughts and input on colour choices. 

see full project
A wooden outdoor shelter with a curved bench and a flower mural on a wall, surrounded by trees and greenery in a park or garden.

Project 04. Shelter & Seating

Ark Franklin Academy, London

We have worked with Ark Academy across 4 sites to provide playground transformations. At Ark Franklin this phase of work involved the design and build of a bespoke shelter with colourful perspex panels and integrated seating and planting.

Dedicated seating and shelter within a playground has many benefits during play times, whilst also providing outdoor classroom space. See featured projects below and click the link below to learn more about the benefits of shelter and seating.

explore shelters & seating
  • A wooden gazebo with a red metal roof situated in a green garden with trees and plants.

    Outdoor Classroom, Knowle West Children's Centre, Bristol

  • A wooden outdoor shelter with a curved bench built into the side, situated on a patch of dirt with fallen leaves surrounding it. There are trees and a fence in the background, and the sky is overcast.

    Forest School Shelter, Southmead Children's Centre, Bristol

  • Wooden outdoor structure with a roof, flower paintings on the wall, a garden bed with plants, on a paved and leaf-covered ground, trees and a fence in the background.

    Buddy Area, Ark Franklin Academy, London

  • Wooden outdoor shelter with colorful paper pom-pom decorations hanging from the ceiling, picnic tables, and a grassy field with houses and trees in the background on a sunny day.

    Community Cafe, Aerodrome Academy, Croydon

  • Outdoor seating area with a fire pit made of large, flat wooden logs arranged in a circle, covered by a large triangular fabric shade, set on a dirt surface surrounded by greenery and trees.

    Forest School Fire Pit Circle, Emmerson Green Primary School, Bristol

  • Children playing in a backyard playhouse with a wooden structure, shelves, and gardening tools on a sunny day.

    Classroom Shelter, Clifton Montessori, Bristol

  • Outdoor playground area with tree-themed benches made from giant tires and wooden stumps, set on black rubber ground, surrounded by grass and trees.

    Tyre Tables, Windwhistle Primary School, Weston-Super-Mare

  • Wooden carport with a metal roof, supported by sturdy wooden beams and posts, situated in a suburban area with houses, trees, and a grassy hill in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

    Dining Area, Minerva Primary Academy, Bristol

  • Empty wooden porch or sunroom with large windows, wooden flooring, and an open railing, overlooking a garden and neighboring houses.

    Outdoor Classroom, Fremington Primary, Barnstaple

  • An outdoor playground area with a shade sail overhead, a small wooden playhouse with a chalkboard, a grass patch, a fenced perimeter, and colorful circular patterns on the ground.

    Sail Shades, St Peters Primary, Pilning

  • Two children, a girl and a boy, sitting and talking on tiered wooden and stone seating in a park with green grass, trees, and a wooden fence in the background.

    Amphitheatre, Minerva Primary Academy, Bristol

  • Wooden shed with metal siding, sliding barn doors, and a sloped roof, situated on a paved surface with a tree stump nearby, under a partly cloudy sky.

    Forest School Workshop, Charborough Road Primary, Bristol

  • Two wooden picnic tables with attached benches on a brick patio, surrounded by a wooden slat fence and some greenery in the background.

    Timber & Metal Picnic Benches, Aerodrome Academy, Croydon

  • A wooden outdoor shelter with a corrugated metal roof, decorated with bunting featuring pig illustrations, and surrounded by potted plants and garden beds in a backyard.

    Community Kitchen, Knowle West Children's Centre, Bristol

  • A covered outdoor play area with wooden support beams and a plastic roof, adjacent to a brick building with three windows. There is a small wooden stage, a blue fence, and play equipment, with the ground partly covered with artificial grass.

    Lean-to, Stanbridge Primary School, Bristol

  • Empty wooden storage shed with built-in shelves and workbench, unfinished wood interior, light wood flooring, and open door to outside.

    Forest School Workshop, Charborough Road Primary, Bristol

  • Children sitting on logs around a firepit with a woman reading a story, in an outdoor playground with a wooden fence and a chalkboard

    Outdoor Kitchen , St Pauls Children's Centre, Bristol

  • Interior of a small wooden structure with green walls, including a blackboard, a small countertop with a sink, a wooden table, and shelves.

    Outdoor Kitchen, Knowle West Children's Centre

  • Wooden park benches arranged in a circular formation around a tree in a grassy outdoor area. In the background, there are two large rubber tires with wooden tops and stools around them, and a winding black asphalt path. Fences and trees can be seen beyond the area.

    Tree Log Bench, Windwhistle Primary School, Weston-Super-Mare

More Projects to inspire

A colorful lighthouse sculpture with a surfboard leaning against it, decorated with various country flags, and green plants in the foreground.
A small wooden stage with a ramp and several vertical wooden posts is set in a landscaped outdoor garden area with bushes, flowers, trees, and gravel ground.
Four children wearing red and dark rain gear playing in a wood-and-shale outdoor playhouse with a wooden roof and walls, and a wooden floor covered with leaves.
Wooden playground structure with climbing nets on a gravel surface in a park, with grassy areas and trees in the background under a cloudy sky.
Three children drawing on a chalkboard mounted on a green shipping container at a playground.
Colorful wooden playhouse with sections labeled 'Home corner,' 'Library,' and 'Cooking,' situated on a gravel surface with picnic table nearby and trees in the background.
Wooden playground structure on sandy ground with trees in background.
Wooden garden beds with plants, a small wooden playhouse, and a sun shade in an outdoor area, possibly a school or community garden.
A backyard with a wooden playhouse and enclosure, wood chips on the ground, a fence, trees, and a brick house in the background.
Two small wooden structures under construction, with colorful striped siding, are set in a backyard with trees and houses in the background, as seen through some green foliage and branches in the foreground.
A garden with flowers, bushes, and trees, showing a gravel area with small wooden structures, and a pinkish sandy pathway with rocks and a tire at the bottom.
Wooden playground structure with a slide, in a backyard with a rubberized yellow ground, tires, and trees in the background.
see all projects

“Can I just say a huge thanks for making the vision a reality. It’s absolutely spectacular. We’re thrilled. Amazing job. Thanks so much!”

Helen Fazakerley,Vice Chair of Bishop Road School PTFA

  • Yes, we work on a wide range of budgets within the education sector. You may need a few pieces of well crafted and robust play items, or are looking for a whole school transformation, or perhaps something in between. No job is too big or too small and we would love to find out more about your specific needs.

  • Once you’ve been in touch, our Office & Design Account Manager Anya will have a chat with you to find out more about your specific needs. She will arrange a site visit so our designers can get a good feel for the space, do any necessary surveys and chat to students and staff. We then produce a costed concept design for free, where we welcome 1-2 rounds of amends. If you choose to work with us we will move onto detailed and technical design before manufacturing any pieces of equipment in our workshop and arranging the playground build on site. The process does vary depending on the unique nature of each project, and we would inform you of the specific process at the start of the process. Once the playground is complete we arrange an independent play inspection and complete the handover with As Built drawings and an Operations & Maintenance Manual. We also provide an after care service, individual to each playground.

  • Yes, we pride ourselves on being a bespoke natural playground company, we love creating site specific play spaces. We also have a range of tried and tested products that are popular within education settings, these can also be adapted to suit specific needs.

  • We love to hear the wild and wonderful ideas that children come up with and we are able to run engaging consultations with children, as well as staff and stakeholders (at an additional cost). We welcome detailed briefs and inspiration images.

  • We primarily use Robinia for construction, with oak and larch for framing. These timbers have all been selected for their high quality, durability, sustainability, appearance and longevity. We also work with metal where appropriate and use standard fixed and fittings, enabling easy replacement if needed.

  • All the materials and products we use have been carefully selected due to their high standards, durability, sustainability, appearance and longevity. All equipment and surfacing is designed, manufactured and installed to current British Standards 1176 and 1177. Warranties are individual to each project and clearly defined before client sign off.

  • All our equipment meets EN1176, EN1177 & TUV playground standards.

    All our equipment is approved by ROSPA in a Post Installation Inspection.

    We are accredited to CHAS and are qualified to act as Designer & Principle Contractors under CDM regulations.

  • Our design and carpentry team are based at our Bristol workshop. However, we build playgrounds all over the country. No job is too far away!

  • We work on site all year round, with extensive experience working within school grounds during term time. All our staff and contractors are DBS checked and it can be exciting and educational for students to see their playground being built. Holiday builds are however popular, these operate on a first come first served basis.

FAQs

We have over 15 years experience designing and building bespoke play spaces, so you are in good hands. Here are some questions you may have regarding your project, but please get in touch if you want to have a no-obligation chat about your specific needs.

Get in touch

Our friendly team are here to answer any questions you have and discuss your needs. We’d love to hear from you.

Call on 07391 531 943

Email hello@greenplayproject.co.uk

Fill in the form below:

We’ll get back to you within 48hours Monday-Friday 9am-4pm.

A young boy with brown hair, wearing a green and blue striped hoodie and jeans, swings happily on a swing set outdoors in a wooded area with trees and a fence in the background.