Creative Play and Learning at Abbots Green


Work started on Monday 17th March 2008. Since then the weather has been so very, very cold, windy and snowy. The building carries on regardless of bank holidays and driving rain.

Play and Shade: We are working with Creative Timberwork to design and build a range of schemes to give us access to the wonderful outdoors and inspire our learners- in all weathers!



	Giant's View... We are having experts design possible ideas for developing creative play. One option is a three house complex, in a triangle formation, on raised decking with the focus piece being a giant tree sculpture in the centre of the triangle! Rope bridges will be some of the access points to the imaginary world. See www.creativetimberwork.co.uk for more details and work spec. Here's how we are getting on...

	Sun Shelter The Sun / Rain Shelter will be made of wood and will have cedar tiles. We will be able to fix materials and fabrics from it to give additional protection. We will be able to travel to the playing areas, following pathways and exciting routes!

	Wednesday 19th March 2008 All the decking has been designed by learners and ideas turned into reality by Creative Timberwork.
	Big Jo will have new houses to admire and a whole forest of trees and bamboo has been planted around the field to keep him company...
	Friday 21st March 2008 Three houses will sit on the decking at each corner. An evergreen oak has been planted in the centre of the decking...
	Saturday 22nd March 2008 Bamboo and rocks gives us wonderful places to play. We love these areas...
	Sunday 23rd March 2008 Our evergreen oak gets its first experience of snow! Brrrrrrr
	Big Jo loves the snow and even sleeps in it!
	We found some massive, beautiful rocks and have desiged places to learn, surrounded by trees and bamboo.
	Monday 24th March 2008 Alistair and Greg from Creative Timberwork work in all weathers! They love their job and it shows in the quality of the building.
	Alistair and Greg set the roofing timber in driving wind and snow... happy days.
	Wednesday 26th March 2008 Love the vertical windows of the fairy and wizard house.The houses are up and roofing timbers are going on. Just some more cladding to compete and skirtng around the base...
	See the three square windows on the left house. They will have thought bubble inserts to change the shape of the windows. All houses will have superior reinforced safety glass.
	A view from the 'creative house' (names still to be defined!)
	The owl house is taking shape. We love its face. What shall we name it?

	The sun and wind shelter ( still to be named as well) is being roofed with cedar tiles. They change colour with the type of weather. Doesn't it look awesome! We love it.
	Friday 28th March 2008 Look at the bubble windows on this house...and the 'little door'. All clever ideas taken from our learners.
	Miss Hamill puts the final finishing touches to the owl house. Such skill! That door will last years.
	The thought bubble windows are a great design. What will our learners be wondering about?
	The owl, with his thoughtful & wise face, watches over the evergreen oak and Big Jo (The Giant)
	We love the upright windows. They give a wonderful view of our stone circle and trees...
	The end of another 12 hour rain soaked and wind blasted day. Big Jo looks happy enough though.
	Wednesday 2nd April March 2008 Mrs Scott puts the final touches on our houses.
	Alistair finishes the last roof with cedar tiles.
	This man looks like he needs a holiday! Mr Bedford has been onsite with Creative Timberwork all Easter. He turns his hand, under the careful eye of Alistair, to a small piece of reycling using the old sleepers and off cut decking. Our KS1 outdoor Learning area has some new additions!
	The view from our stone circle. We wonder what stories and amazing tales will grow from this beautiful place...
	The finished houses. Just rope bridges to build on either side and rope protection on the front. Big Jo is so lucky. Who will be his new neighbours? Alistair and Creative Timberwork will return in May 2008 to build our outdoor classroom. We have a destruction and construction day planned in April 2008. We need as many mums, dads, partners, learners, grandparents as possible to help recycle and reuse our present outdoor classroom. Leaving the area clear for Creative Timberwork to build a new one... We will also need help digging and laying bark paths around our giant log, gardens and leading to the magical houses! Keep your eye out for this date. Some more pictures from today... Thursday 3rd April.

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