Joint greening of school playground

More than 60 children, parents, and teachers participated in a greening workshop at Karel Destovnik Kajuh elementary school in Ljubljana. Shovels, pickaxes, hoes, gloves, and happy faces filled the space, leaning over freshly dug holes ready for new plantings. Together, we managed to plant over 40 seedlings in a single afternoon, construct a willow house, revamp outdoor classrooms, and install a new sandbox on the playground. Quite impressive, isn’t it?

Carefully selected shrubs and other plantings were positioned to eventually create a green buffer zone between the playground and the outdoor classroom. They will also adorn the fence separating the schoolyard from the bustling pedestrian and bike path. These plant species were chosen to withstand the urban environment and the frequent, intensive use. With their blossoms, fruits, colorful leaves, and bark, these shrubs will remain attractive and interesting throughout all seasons, serving both as a play area and an opportunity for observing natural cycles and learning. Their diversity will contribute to greater biodiversity in the school’s surroundings.

As an addition, we planted a living house made from willow branches on the playground. As the branches take root, the house will green and continue to grow, providing children with a shelter and a play corner. It seemed like a good alternative to the treehouse the children wanted.