abc does

Outstanding Outdoor Spaces - Cool Canvas

I first heard of Cool Canvas after I had delivered a conference in Bolton. I got an email from a delegate to say that they had had a brilliant creative artist come in and completely transform their outdoor space into a fantastic learning environment.

It seems that that setting were not alone, as I am seeing and hearing lots more on my travels about the high quality work and the creative ideas that Oliver and his team are spreading through our outdoor environments. 

Although there is loads of info and inspirational photos on the Cool Canvas website. I have manages to persuade Oliver to take some time out of his busy schedule to write me a quick guest blog post and share some of the work that he has done.

What we do

Design and install bespoke play areas using natural materials.

How we came to making play areas:

As a child my parents fell on hard times financially. After losing our home and all worldly possessions we we're lucky enough to move to a rented old farm house.  The farm house sat within hundreds of acres of land with  a mile long crumbled old dirt track entrance. The house itself had been vandalised and as a result had 20ft high security mesh fencing around the perimeter.  To other potential viewers it looked like hell on earth, but to my family it was our opportunity pull together, to explore space and develop our skills and passion for creating outside environments.

We had little money so everything we created was from resources we found within the woodlands and surrounding grounds. We made tree houses, forts with connecting walkways, den spaces, watch towers, mud kitchens, a stable for a horse which had been abandoned on our door step... the list goes on. We started to develop a bond with nature in what was our own magical word with no limits on outdoor play.

 

Who Works With Us?

Me: Oliver Wotherspoon - artist by trade. 

My dad Richard, who is the landscaper and project manager.

My brother Harry, who is the tree surgeon.

Two joiners:  Aidy and James and my wife, Tamsin, who is the head of maintenance.

Water Play and Investigation

What we provide:

We don't supply off the shelf play products. We create unique environment that act as a magical platform for children and staff to transform into whatever they want.

Mud Kitchens

We use treated and green timber, planting and loose surfaces to make zones for climbing, digging, water, mixing, mark making, transition the list goes on. I work with the staff and children to work out a design; if the children want to help with the installation of the play area then we arrange workshops.

Pulleys!

At the end of the project I play in the area with the children and staff mainly to give some ideas for the potential use of the space and how they can develop it further as their own unique play experiences emerge.

 

 Build and Dig 

The benefits

Limitless play opportunities creates inspired and happy staff = inspired and happy children.

 

Tree Houses

The draw backs

• Maintenance is my biggest hang up. Settings need to factor in a monthly maintenance budget if considering a natural play area.  We make sure we do a 12 month maintenance contract as part of a development. 

 

• Caretakers -  don't get my dad started on caretakers! 

Willow Work

For more information about Cool Canvas you can visit our website by clicking here. I hope you have enjoyed looking at some of the work that we do. We aim to inspire children to be highly engaged and creative learners outdoors and it would be great to come and inspire some of yours!

Cheers,

Oliver.

If it makes you want to climb inside the screen and have a go, then you know it must be good stuff!

Thanks to Oliver for sharing some fantastic ideas.

Have a lovely Bank Holiday weekend...

Alistair

Seed Bombing!

Now that the weather has finally decided to warm up a bit, you might want to get your children to partake in a little bit of Seed Bombing.

Seed Bombing originally started out as a way of bringing a bit of 'nature' and 'colour' to disused and derelict pieces of land in towns and cities, but now you can buy ready made seed bombs to scatter in your own garden or outdoor area.

But, why buy when you can make your own? (I was ably assisted by my youngest son, Geordie and my niece, Mabel).

The concept of a Seed Bomb is a ball of seeds wrapped in compost and red clay. The clay gradually disintegrates when it is left to the elements and the compost helps the seeds to germinate. Many of them also contain chilli powder to deter animals from eating them.

The first time I tried to make a seed bomb, I couldn't find red clay powder so I decided to use the 'school clay' that comes in those big grey blocks. This really didn't work very well as it would take you about 3 days to work the seeds into the clay! I also decided that children and chilli powder probably wasn't a good idea so left out that ingredient!

That is when I struck on the idea of using a dough recipe.

For a batch of bombs I mix up: 2 cups of flour, 1 cup of compost, 2 packets of wild flour seeds and a cup of water. If it is too 'wet' I add more flour, if it too dry, then more water. You want to get the consistency of a good batch of playdough.

If I really want the children to work the dough for a bit of fine motor development then I add the seeds once the dough has been mixed. If not then you could add the seeds with the flour and compost. (Always check your seeds just in case the flowers they produce could be poisonous)!

Once you have got a good consistency, turn your dough out onto a floured surface. 

Pull of small pieces of the dough and roll into balls. If your dough is still a bit sticky towards the middle then roll it in the extra flour you have put onto your surface.

Once you have rolled all of your dough into Seed Bombs then leave them to dry out , this usually takes a couple of days.

Once they are dry you can then scatter, throw or catapult them into your outdoor space.

As we were doing these ones in the ABC back garden, my boys of course chose catapult. There wasn't one to hand so they made their own from a stick and an elastic band - good work!

Now we will just wait for the flowers to grow!

Happy 'bombing'!

Alistair

And the winners are....

After employing the mysterious skills of the 'random number generator' I am pleased to announce that the winners of 'Continuous Provision' are....(drum roll).....

Oonagh Devlin

Sam Frost

Sarah Tindal

Neil Ardon

and

Julie Jagger

I will be contacting you all in due course to ask you for an address to post your book to. Hope you enjoy it...

Alistair