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PRESS RELEASE 22 May 2002 Stoke Newington children reach for the sky
This week, pupils of Grasmere School in Stoke Newington will venture for the first time along the Tree Walk, which at over 25 metres long, is almost certainly the biggest play-structure in a school in this country. The structure will take children into the trees of the school's magical woodland garden, alive with bluebells in springtime. Children will play safely at height, looking down on friends, parents and teachers passing underneath along a new path to the school. With the garden growing freely around the architectural structure, this will be a rich and diverse environment for play, altogether unusual for a school. view photos of scheme The £60,000 project was achieved in co-operation with the school, governors, children and parents and is part of Groundwork's pilot SRB5 programme, ‘Safe Routes to School, Safe Roots for Communities’, which has received funding from the Single Regeneration Budget through the London Development Agency. It was designed by landscape architect Maisie Rowe for Groundwork Hackney and built by Theories Landscapes. Maisie worked with children at the school, parents and governors to develop the design and ensure that it could be used by all children at the school. In keeping with the theme of ‘Safe routes to School’, the project includes bike racks to encourage cycling to school, and works to improve the pathway beyond the school gate. The project has also seen teachers’ car-parking removed from the playground, facilitating the construction of another new play area and the creation of a new school entrance which enables children to avoid a hazardous main road. Since the project’s completion, parents have been inspired to work in the garden at weekends, creating pathways and an amphitheatre.
Penny Greenhalgh, headteacher, says:"The children wanted a tree-house, but the Tree Walk takes the idea further. It gives pupils a whole new perspective on the world, you could say it takes them to new heights!" Tim Bissett, Executive Director of Groundwork Hackney says: "This project demonstrates the benefits of the Safe Routes to School programme. It shows how, with a little imagination, an everyday journey can become an adventure". Date Friday 24th May, 6.00 pm: grand opening with disco, barbecue and fire juggler Location Grasmere JMI School, 92 Albion Road, Stoke Newington, London N16 click here for map For images and more information, contact Maisie Rowe, Landscape Architect 07866 742 844 maisie@thomasheatherwickstudio.co.uk Greg IK McNeill, Groundwork Hackney, 020 8985 1755 greg.mcneill@ground-level.org
ENDS Notes to Editors: About Safe Routes to School This project is part of Groundwork’s SRB5 ‘Safe Routes to School, Safe Roots for Communities’ pilot programme in London. This programme has received funding from the Single Regeneration Budget through the London Development Agency. Groundwork is helping children to assess their routes to school and develop their own ideas about how they can be improved. The programme uses community co-operation and communication to change ideas and ways of thinking by involving communities in the improvement of safety along routes to school. The work is resulting in research that will help spread the good practice being developed. websites: Grasmere School: http://www.grasmere.hackney.sch.uk/ Grasmere SRTS: http://grasmere.ground-level.org/ Groundwork SRTS: http://www.ground-level.org/safe-routes/
about Groundwork Hackney Groundwork Hackney exists to bring about sustainable improvements to the local environment and to contribute to economic and social regeneration. We do this by undertaking environmental projects in partnership with relevant groups and agencies. Groundwork Hackney is at 6 Lower Clapton Road, Hackney, London E5 0PD. You can telephone us on 020 8985 1755 or fax on 020 8986 4834 and email to the postmaster@ground-level.org website: http://www.ground-level.org About Groundwork Groundwork is a federation of Trusts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, each working with their partners in deprived areas to improve the quality of the local environment, the lives of local people and the success of local businesses. Groundwork was established on Merseyside in 1981 and is this year celebrating 21 years of local action. Last year Groundwork worked with 3,000 schools and over 1 million children have benefited from its education programmes. website: http://www.groundwork.org.uk/

photographs courtesy of Steve Speller

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