New data reveals 45% of Wickes Community Programme applications now come from schools, nurseries and PTAs, with more than 60% seeking support to improve outdoor environments
As schools across the UK celebrate Outdoor Classroom Day on Thursday 5th November, new data from the Wickes Community Programme reveals growing demand for better outdoor learning environments, with nearly half (45%) of all funding and material requests now coming from schools, nurseries and PTAs.
Outdoor Classroom Day is a global campaign held twice a year, in May and November, which encourages teachers to take learning outside through play, exploration and practical activities. The campaign aims to make outdoor learning part of children’s everyday experiences, rather than something reserved for special occasions.
Reflecting this growing interest, more than 60% of educational applications to the Wickes Community Programme seek support to improve outdoor spaces, including nature hubs, sensory gardens, allotments and outdoor play areas.
Two recent projects in Woodborough and Southampton demonstrate how schools and local Wickes teams are bringing these ideas to life, from extensive playground transformations to finding new uses for materials that would otherwise go to waste.
Woodborough CE Primary School
To support more opportunities for outdoor learning and play, Woodborough CE Primary School has completed an extensive transformation of its grounds through the Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) programme.
Working alongside DIY content creator Aimee (@TheCountryReno), and with material donations from Wickes, including raised planters, a playhouse and an apex shed, the school has brought pupils’ wishlist to life. The transformed space includes water stations, vegetable beds and loose-parts play zones, giving children more opportunities to explore, play and learn outdoors.
The project reflects the spirit of Outdoor Classroom Day, which encourages schools to make the most of their outdoor environments and give children more opportunities to learn through practical, hands-on experiences.
Mrs Freya Wren, Headteacher at Woodborough CE Primary, said: “Our enhanced OPAL provision gives children the freedom to explore, take managed risks, solve problems together, and develop confidence and resilience. The new spaces encourage curiosity, collaboration and enjoyment. We are incredibly proud of what our school community has achieved and grateful to our families, Aimee and the Wickes Community Programme for supporting our vision.”
Southampton school
In Southampton, a local Wickes store has found a practical way to support a school’s new forest school and mud kitchen, while also making use of materials that would otherwise have been discarded.
When the school needed secure storage for its outdoor learning equipment, the Southampton team repurposed pallets, non-returnable timber spacers and damaged fence panels to hand-build two heavy-duty storage units. The materials were given a new lease of life, providing the school with a practical solution to safely store its tools and resources.
Hannah Randle Hockin, Community Engagement and Social Impact Manager at Wickes, said: “Every school has different needs, and sometimes it’s the smallest things that can make the biggest difference. Whether it’s helping to transform an outdoor space with new planters and play equipment, or finding a new use for materials that would otherwise go to waste, we’re proud to support schools and communities with practical solutions that help bring their ideas to life.”
Schools, charities, and community groups seeking material donations or assistance for their outdoor learning spaces can apply through the Wickes Community Programme by visiting www.wickes.co.uk/communityprogramme.
