Creating a Forest School in Inner-city London

Forest School - Thomas Buxton Primary School

As part of Maylim’s commitment to local communities, we look to offer support to benefit the communities surrounding our projects. In connection with our work at Exchange Square for British Land, we were delighted to utilise our landscaping expertise to create a forest school at Thomas Buxton Primary School. Located in Whitechapel, Tower Hamlets, the 150m² plot was overgrown, overlooked and had accessibility issues. Working with the school, our volunteers agreed on a design to create a functional, safe and exciting space. The installation of hazel hurdle shields the garden from public view, and surfaced pathways have improved accessibility. Raised planters, built using recycled materials, provide ample space for the children to grow fruit, vegetables and flowers. Leftover materials will enable the children to construct bug hotels and dens as part of their learning experience. Working closely with Spitalfields City Farm, the Thomas Buxton Primary School ensures that children have the opportunity to learn more about nature. The new space will be beneficial in expanding learning and creating a connection with the great outdoors. Headteacher, Lorraine Flanagan, said; “Our thanks to the Maylim Heroes for totally transforming our inner-city scrubland into a magical area for forest school experiences. Our children are fortunate that they now have a safe place to explore the natural world. They have space to build campfires, make dens and experience life outdoors in the heart of London. We cannot thank Maylim enough for the amazing dedication of their team. They have created a space our children and their families will value for years.”

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