Charlcombe Meadows - Year 9 Problem Based Learning Project

As part of their Problem Based Learning programme, Year 9 were asked to respond to a letter from the local community group, Friends of Charlcombe Meadows, outlining their plans for a new outdoor community nature space.  The students were asked to make a plan to either design a bridge to cross the stream, a bench or a walking trail around the nature reserve. 

They received a launch session from local architecture firm Hapticity who showed them how they would approach a project through creating mood boards and model designs. The students then launched and spent lessons researching materials, considering the environment both aesthetically and with regard to sustainability and practical considerations. 

We managed a site visit in Children’s Mental Health Week when the sun shone for us, and we were able to get a proper sense of the landscape. Designs were then adjusted in the light of this visit and projects written up ready to be submitted for a Crest Award as well as being presented to representatives of the community action group and the Hapticity team. 

You can find out more about the plans for this new community nature space and get involved in the plan to record wildlife here. 

Hapticity Architects have sent us the following feedback from the presentation of designs: 

“Thank you for inviting us to be involved with the ‘problem-based learning initiative’ in relation to the Charlcombe Community Nature Reserve. Claire and I found the experience extremely rewarding and were so impressed with the ideas and enthusiasm of all the groups. We were impressed and thought it showed real maturity that all groups considered inclusivity as an integral part of the design and not an additional feature and we discussed the balance between accessibility and minimal environmental impact.  We thought the most successful groups had focused on the symbiotic relationship between man-made structures and nature and how the design would evolve after the initial installation. We loved that the groups had re-considered their designs after the site visit and understood that design was a balance between an evolving process and one of referral back to initial concepts and ideas.” Helen Carey, Director of Hapticity Architects, RIBA Chair for Bath and Bristol.

Group feedback: 

Buttercup: It was impressive how the group had taken inspiration from nature and wildlife to design a variety of benches; a toadstool, butterfly and caterpillar bench. The group had taken into account the topography of the site, designing the butterfly bench to have shorter legs at the back to ensure it sits level on the uneven site. They had carefully considered the different weather and how the benches could create cover and protection from the rain. Really lovely presentation by the group, who articulated their ideas very clearly, and used models and mood boards to demonstrate their design. 

Peach: The group had really thought about enhancing the entrance to the nature reserve and how this could be more inviting and interesting. The willow tunnel was a brilliant idea and I thought it was great how they had utilised natural materials to create the structure, which would also act as a shelter. The path which then led one into the reserve was well thought out with waste bins provided and an interactive board aimed at engaging all with the different wildlife in the park. Wonderful hand sketches.

Flower: The group had come up with a variety of routes/ walks through the nature reserve, each path being suited to people of different abilities. It was wonderful how the group had really thought about how they could engage the community by implementing interactive boards along their paths, informing the public about the surrounding wildlife. The groups idea of lifting the paths off the ground was a great idea which allowed the wildlife and greenery go undisturbed.  

Poppies: Poppies had designed a swinging bench with fairy lights overhead, which would sit in between existing trees. I was impressed with how the group had carefully considered how their bench could be designed in a way which would have minimal impact on the environment by using the existing trees as support for the bench and lifting the seat off the ground. It also created a destination point for walkers. 

Skye: The group had designed a footbridge over the stream. It was brilliant how they had thought about how their intervention could enhance the experience of the reserve for both people and wildlife; bridging from bank to bank would prevent people having to walk up and down the hill in the mud, whilst also leaving the stream open for wildlife corridors to continue undisturbed. The longevity of building materials had been well thought through and it was decided to use stone for this reason. The idea that the bridge will become overgrown with greenery and wild plants in time creates a superb design which disappears into its surroundings. 

Moss: The group had gone into depth on the detail of their path design, researching into its materiality and which timbers are more cost effective, readily available and suited to the environment the paths will be located in. Lots of research had been carried out into the species and creatures found at the nature reserve using reliable resources such as the National Trust website. It was wonderful to see how thoroughly they had researched into the details of their design. 

Orchid/ Orchard: The group had really thought about the future of the nature reserve and how their interventions can enhance the biodiversity of the site and support the conservation of the reserve. It was interesting how the group had researched into the decline of wildflower meadows within the UK and how this bought about the idea of planting one in the nature reserve to help increase wildflower meadows across the UK. They had carefully considered how the reserve could be maintained and looked after in the future; using the wildflower meadow to attract bees which would make honey that the reserve could sell to raise money for the ongoing maintenance of the reserve. I was amazed by the holistic approach the group had to the project, considering not only the users’ experience but how to ensure the future of the reserve.

Cornflower: Cornflower focused on routes around the reserve and designed wayfinding information boards along the route. They had created a great leaflet which could not only be utilised for visitors but as a great publicity tool. They had considered planting wildflowers and planting that would emphasise the changing season making for a diversity for the day-to-day user.