A Fun Foundation Garden – Stoke Hill, Exeter – November 2022

Exeter Stoke Hill Primary School is set in a beautiful part of the city, surrounded by lush greenery and mature trees. The school wanted an outdoor foundation space that matched this peaceful natural setting – one that would encourage outdoor learning and nature-inspired play for their youngest pupils.

With the children away for the summer holidays, the staff at Stoke Hill approached Rhino Play to give their tired foundation garden a complete refresh. The existing space had several issues that needed addressing before the new term began, and our playground specialists were ready to help.

What Needed To Change?

• Non age appropriate play equipment that didn’t suit the early years foundation stage children
• Rubber grass mats that needed replacing
• A willow dome that attracted more wasps than children

Our Approach

The project kicked off with our team clearing out all the outdated features. Once the space was stripped back, we could start fresh with a design that truly worked for the school’s needs.

• First, we secured the perimeter with our play-grade timber picket fencing, fitted with access gates so staff could easily supervise and enter the area. This was essential for keeping the youngest children safe while giving them freedom to explore – a key consideration for any school or nursery playground
• Next, we created a dedicated 50m² mud digging zone as part of the sand, mud and water play area. Using our own factory-supplied timbers to retain the soil, this space was designed for sensory and imaginative play – perfect for little hands to dig, discover and get creative outdoors
• Finally, we resurfaced the entire 314m² area with our heavy-duty artificial grass, giving the school an all-weather surface that can handle daily use come rain or shine