GB-Landscape was invited by the school Principal to transform the playground at St Catherine’s Primary School into a vibrant and inclusive space. Drawing upon years of experience in playground design and extensive research in children’s play and nature play, the project unfolded through ongoing interaction with teachers, parents, and students.

The end design, a collaboration between GB-Landscape and Ausplay, encompassed seven key areas of physical and interpretive play (physical, challenge, perceptual, social, spatial, imagine and cognitive), ensuring a diverse range of play experiences for children of all ages and abilities. The design draws inspiration from the sights, sounds, activities and terrain that are experienced in nature when on a bushwalk. The playground design highlights the large existing gum trees on the site and reflects the bushland reserves that are near St Catherine’s Primary School using natural colours and materials. Pops of bright yellow and green have been used to create a sense of fun and adventure, while the central play tower provides equitable access for both a play and teaching space, with room for an entire class to be among the treetops.

Play structures such as the climbing poles, hidey hole and dome steppers foster imaginative play and allow children to create their own games and interpretation of use for the equipment. With a range of risk levels, the playground has opportunities for all age levels and abilities.