Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/you-can-do-it!-improving-constrained-outdoor-spaces/5022524/
“I’d love to create a more nature-friendly outdoor space, but I don’t think I can because. . . .” Sound familiar? There are many reasons people give for not being able to make changes to constrained spaces, but actually there are solutions to almost any challenge. Let’s explore these together in this article.
In recent years there has been increased interest in nature-based play and learning at early childhood facilities. Research is showing many benefits when children are able to connect with nature on a daily basis. But what if your outdoor environment is one that doesn’t allow for considerable redesign or transformation? Perhaps you lease space and the owner will not agree to things you’d like to do, like removing pavement, permanently installing plant materials, or adjusting fence lines? Or perhaps your outdoor space has a newer play structure that dominates the area you have to work with and cannot be removed for a variety of reasons. Maybe it’s just that your outdoor space isn’t working the way you thought it could and you don’t have much of a budget to use for making changes. What are some of the steps you could take if you cannot do a major transformation ...