Dan Crabb, Jeanette Walker
Situated on a farm in the beautiful Surrey countryside,
Barnkids Nursery in Chiddingfold
can now proudly boast a splendid
roundwood timber-framed outdoor classroom
Hand-built by local carpenter and Dad, Dan Crabb of Dan Crabb Carpentry and Construction, it is constructed from local unprocessed sweet chestnut and sawn cedar timbers, all sourced from sustainably managed (FSC certified) Surrey Wildlife Trust woodlands.
"We love to get our children outside in the fresh air and enjoying nature as much as possible" says Barnkids owner Jeanette Walker, "so when we decided to develop the outside area it was really important to us that we had a covered space to provide shelter for our activities through sun and rain."
"My daughter goes to Barnkids", says Dan, "and knowing Jeanette's philosophy I knew she'd be interested in a low-impact, eco-friendly option so I approached her with the idea. With this type of structure you get to really appreciate the shape and feel of the wood as a natural material. I'm really pleased with the way it's turned out and I can't wait to see my daughter and all her friends using it".
The classroom is the centerpiece of a programme of work to develop an unused field into a wonderful new outdoor space for all the children which now includes raised vegetable beds and a sandpit.
"The children have always been able to use the playgrounds and go for walks on the farm" says Jeanette, "but the new space gives us loads more opportunities for outside learning and play. It looks fantastic and the children and staff are already using it every day."
www.barnkids.co.uk
Barnkids is a private, family run, multi-purpose children's centre located close to Chiddingfold, Surrey, near the towns of Haslemere and Godalming. It offers nursery school, day care and after school clubs for children aged 18 months to 10 years. It also runs dedicated school holiday club