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ALLIED TRADE FEATURE

The school prefers wooden equipment as it is
more natural. Three rope climbs provide upper
body exercise for the children.

Wondergrass synthetic turf was
Paulshof Paulshof installed at both schools in the
children’s play area. The grass was
cut and joined on site as per the
present a fair challenge to most learners,” pick flowers or leaves. Some examples
explains Nathan. are Plectranthus neochilus, Helichrysum landscape architect’s specifications.
splendidum and Felicia amelloides. The
He was also responsible for the mud intention is that they will be allowed to
kitchen, which is a no-frills ‘play’ kitchen pick flowers as part of their play.
unit that learners can have fun with,
without concern for messing or keeping Due to space constraints, no spinning
it clean and tidy. “Sensory and tactile equipment could be installed, but
awareness is at play here,” he says. the swings provide some vestibular
stimulation.
A bicycle track with mounds and other
obstacles like rumble strips circumvents RUIMSIG
the whole playground. The school has
bicycles and trikes which the children use Nova Pioneer is also in the process of
extensively. building a new school in Ruimsig, west of
Johannesburg. The first classes opened in
The boulders create a natural climbing January 2020. The school currently has two
area along the slope, with another five playgrounds, a swimming pool, two multi- Paulshof
meter slide, and ropes to climb up against purpose courts and extensive lawned
the slope. On the quieter side of the areas. Future phases of the school will
playground, three dropper Indian tepees include more classrooms, a hall, another
sit within planting (still to grow in at this playground and a sports field. from the parking lot to the playground.
stage), with eucalyptus slabs acting as The undulating slope is steep enough
stepping stones between. Beans will still be During the first phase, two playgrounds to slide down in places, eliminating the
planted around the tepees to partly cover were designed: one from grades 000 need for buying a slide. In other areas it
them with foliage (still visually permeable to grade R, and one for Grades 1-3. The has climbing grips and ropes to get to the
to the teachers). This area is a retreat from next playground, for Grades 4-7, will be top. The slope proved quite challenging to
the busier sandpit area, providing space developed in a future phase. build as space was severely limited, and
for reading a book quietly, or playing several changes had to be made on site.
in small groups. Often, spaces for quiet Together with Nova Pioneer, a set of
retreat are neglected in schools. Being standard items for their playgrounds were A large sandpit again doubles up as an
in a noisy, crowded environment can be developed, and is still being developed for impact-attenuating area underneath the
exceptionally stressful for some children. future schools. The set consists of simple swings and jungle gym, as well as creating
Creating quiet spaces only big enough items such as a sandpit, mud kitchen a large area for sand play. An Indian tepee
for two or three, or for sitting alone, can stations, a track for bicycles and trikes, area and mud kitchens are in a quieter area
alleviate some of this stress. Of course, it is monkey bars, swings, an Indian tepee of the playground.
important that these spaces must still be area, and other equipment for exercising
visually permeable to the teachers. upper body strength. As with Paulshof, The primary playground for grades 1-3
Van der Walt aimed to create a variety of again has a large sandpit, swings, and
A vegetable garden is also being spaces: some busy, some quiet, some for one larger jungle gym. Large shade nets
established. gross motor skill development, some for cool down the area until the trees have
fine motor skill development. grown in. The school supplies all types of
Plants were chosen for smell, foliage, equipment for sand play and the children
texture and hardiness and being able to In the pre-primary playground at Ruimsig, spend much time digging and building in
take some hammering from children who Van der Walt made use of a drop in height the sand, especially during aftercare hours.

Landscape SA • Issue 94 2020 21