We used some of the funds to provide outside seating for the children, sunshades and an area of decking where the children could enjoy quiet outdoor activities away from the more energetic play, as well as many other stimulating additions.
We set up a sensory garden area and created a path to it using stepping stones made of pebbles and glass nuggets (see Idea 1).
We also created sunshades, and used them to cover the whole of the play area. The shades were dyed to create a rainbow effect, starting with red and travelling through the spectrum back to pink (see Idea 2).
The children love the tent effect created by the shades as they are made of light cotton and move in the breeze.
Idea 1
To make the stepping stones:
* Fill circular aluminium pie cases with ready-mixed cement.
* While the cement is still wet, press coloured glass nuggets and tiny tiles on to the surface.
* When the cement has dried, turn out of the case and set into the lawn.
Idea 2
To make the sunshades:
Buy cheap undyed cotton fabric, cut it into lengths to suit the length of garden and dye it in the required shades. Sew loops of rope to 8in (20cm) canvas squares and sew these to each corner of each shade. Fix heavy-duty steel hooks to walls on either side of the garden and attach the loops.
Juliet Kelly and Alison Douch, members of the parents' committee, thank all the children, parents and staff who helped to create the garden, Alison Clark of London University and Happy Faces supervisor Lis Grant-Wilson.
