PROJECTS

An edible, nature-rich playground where trees, play features, and food-growing spaces inspire children to learn, play, and thrive outdoors.

Grange Primary School Edible Playground

Working with Trees for Cities and the pupils of Grange Primary School, Southwark, Davies White Ltd helped transform a grey, uninspiring playground into a leafy oasis for play, learning and growing incredible edibles. A partnership with Trees for Cities, Lancaster University and the Social Value Innovation Partnership measured the positive impact, value and importance of outdoor learning in green spaces and gardens.

The new playground design was divided into three key zones:

• Learning Zone – including a meeting circle for outdoor lessons, vertical growing spaces from upcycled trellis, and ornamental cherry trees.
• Edible Growing Zone – with potting benches, cold frames, a living plant table, and growing spaces for fruit and vegetables.
• Woodland Play Zone – stepping stumps, balance poles, climbing ropes, and a willow tunnel encourage active, imaginative play.

Across the site, five new trees and 180m² of shrubs, perennials and edibles were planted, softening the space and creating valuable new habitats.

Completed:  2022 Client: Grange Primary School Budget:  £50K

Located in an area of high economic, social and environmental deprivation, the school playground was previously a hard, polluted space that offered little in the way of stimulation or nature. With funding from Impact on Urban Health and Grange Primary, we co-designed a healthy playground alongside pupils and teachers, ensuring their voices shaped the design.

Measuring impact

To understand the benefits of this green transformation, Trees for Cities partnered with Lancaster University and the Social Value Innovation Partnership. Pupil-led teams monitored their new playground air quality using portable PM2.5 sensors, while teachers and pupils took part in planting, food growing, and air quality workshops.

The results showed immediate positive change:

1. Increased activity – children, especially girls, are now more active and exploring more of the playground and enjoying gardening lessons.
2. Cleaner air – lower pollution levels were recorded in woodland areas compared to spaces near the main road.
3. Positive attitudes – pupils and teachers reported improved mental health, outdoor learning opportunities, and greater awareness of air pollution.
4. Pupil pride – children described their old playground as “plain” and “boring”; now they say there are “lots more things to do” and that they feel more “active.”

Planting Healthy Air

This project demonstrates how careful planting and thoughtful design can help reduce exposure to pollution while providing shade, biodiversity, food growing, and opportunities for outdoor learning. Trees and vegetation not only filter and cool the air but also enrich children’s health and wellbeing.

We are proud to have worked with Trees for Cities and Grange Primary to show how greener edible playgrounds can deliver healthier, happier futures for children.