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School Grounds Greening

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Other Environmental Health Initiatives

School Grounds Greening

Description

School grounds greening is the process of transforming conventional concrete school yards into green, clean and healthier environments.

The school yard is an untapped resource with enormous social, health and environmental benefits. There are a lot creative, fun and environmentally enriching things that can be done to school yards that will result in a healthier and safer environment to work and to play. Ideally, a school ground will have play spaces, quiet areas, and green spaces.

There is a need to protect the health of school children from harmful UV rays, especially when the children are usually outdoors during the peak periods of the day. Strategically placed trees on school grounds can provide shady areas of protection. As well, open school grounds are often located close to busy streets, where there is no protection from noise, dust, and wind. Perimeter planting of trees acts as a noise and pollution barrier.

Background

Natural landscapes, with trees and shrubs, provide shade from harmful UV rays; natural filtration of air and noise pollution; and niches that offer food and shelter to wildlife. They may also require less water and maintenance and subsequently reduce long-term upkeep costs.

Research has also shown that interactive natural environments reduce violent behaviour on school grounds and provide positive social experiences for students (Health Canada). Plus, naturalized school grounds create a greater awareness and respect of nature and ecology, along with opportunities for outdoor hands-on learning in all areas of the curriculum, allowing more time and reason to be outside.

Of course, the safety of children is the top priority. Only playground equipment and structures that meet current CSA standards should permitted on school property.

What You Can Do

• A playground committee is a good idea, to gather ideas and divide the work. The committee can be small or large, and should be comprised of parents, and a teacher(s) and/or administrator.
• A "Wants and Needs" list should be developed by asking students, staff, and parents what they would like to see in a school yard.
• An assessment of the overall condition of the school yard should be carried out, with the assistance of the school district maintenance personnel, to include an inspection of the existing trees, checking for dangerous limbs or stumps, and of the playground equipment, to ensure that it is safe and age appropriate.
• For complex plans, the services of a landscape architect would be beneficial. A landscape "plan" could be designed, to be developed in phases over a period of several years. Suggestions of native trees and shrubs that would thrive under specific conditions would be identified, too.
• Fund-raising is usually necessary. Someone should be responsible for overseeing requests for donations, gathering prices of plants and planting materials, completion of funding applications, and looking into the acquiring of "in-kind" services and technical advice. Looking at the parent population is a good place to start.
• It is very important that the students be involved in the entire process, from planning to planting, to provide them with a sense of ownership to become the playground "caretakers" in the long-term.

School Grounds Checklist

Native Trees and Shrubs

There are defined areas where children can either play, relax or learn.

There are no defined areas, but rather one large open space.

There are many trees and shrubs to provide a pleasing and safe environment for students.

There are some trees and shrubs, but more are needed.

There are very few trees and shrubs; consideration and planning of school ground greening is required.

Playground Equipment

There is presently existing CSA approved equipment and structures to adequately provide play areas for the students.

There is some equipment present meeting CSA standards.

There is some equipment of varying age and condition on the school ground. Inspection and possibly removal is necessary.

 

Resources and Links

Tree Canada Foundation
Tel (613)567-5545
Fax (613)567-5270
Email tcf@treecanada.ca
www.treecanada.ca

The Evergreen Foundation
Tel 416-596-1495 / 1-888-426-3138
Fax 416-596-1443
Email info@evergreen.ca
www.evergreen.ca

Canadian Biodiversity Institiute
www.schoolgrounds.ca/schoolgrounds/

Possible Sources for trees and shrubs (End of season is probably best)
Local retail nurseries
Municipal, provincial and federal government nurseries