Best Buds Construction

IMG_9435-min

Construction service

At Best Buds, we believe that a crucial element in delivering a successful forest school experience for children is having an exceptional outdoor space. That is why we offer a unique service, which includes developing and maintaining an outdoor area that is safe, engaging, and functional in all seasons. Our skilled team will work with you to plan different sections, such as a fire pit area, seating area, composting area, wood storage, den building, and cover for poor weather days making the space usable throughout the entire year.

IMG_8827-min

Transform your space

We try and use recycled and natural materials where ever we can and in a woodland space, we make sure any work we do will have a positive impact on the natural flora and fauna.  

By providing a well-designed and maintained outdoor space, we aim to ensure that children can explore and learn in a safe and inviting environment. 

Case Study 1, St. Wallburga's Primary School

St. Wallburga's Primary School is based in Shipley, West Yorkshire.  Within the school, grounds is a wooded area that was used for sporadic outdoor sessions but was also used as a dumping ground for garden waste and had been neglected for around 5 years.  As a result, the plants became overgrown and certain areas were rendered unusable due to the presence of Holly and Hawthorn.

Screenshot 2023-02-14 at 15.46.58

Best Buds was enlisted to address the issue and successfully cleared the area of waste, recycling some of the materials for use in another school. Best Buds went on to construct new seating spaces and a fire pit, rebuilt the raised beds, removed rotting tree trunks, and cut back all the Holly and Hawthorn, making the space completely usable.

To ensure the safety of the children, Best Buds constructed a fence along the far side of the area, which previously had a seven-foot drop into the playground. This not only made the area twice as large but also made it completely safe for exploration.

IMG_8819-min

The final result was an amazing outdoor space that has become a valuable asset to the school.

Best Buds now delivers weekly Forest School sessions in the space and we take great pride in the work previously done and continue to look after the space to maintain its exceptional quality.

Case Study 2, Rainbow Academy

Rainbow Academy's space designated for outdoor provision had been neglected over time and had become a completely unusable and overgrown bush area that lacked mature trees, making it unsuitable for use in poor weather conditions due to not being able to put up shelters. Despite the presence of seating, the space was in dire need of a redesign.

IMG_9426-min

After consultation with the school, Best Buds Construction came up with a plan to clear the area and create spaces for children to explore and build dens. In the absence of mature trees, Best Buds constructed reinforced round posts that mimicked the appearance of tree trunks. These posts served as versatile structures for putting up shelters, building dens, and hammocks.

IMG_0372-min

The space has continued to evolve over time, with Best Buds Construction adding new features such as dens built from recycled pallets and laid new wood chip recycled from cutting back overgrown areas elsewhere in the school. The resulting work was transformative, allowing for year-round use of the space and the construction of a safe fire area. Best Buds Construction is proud of the finished product and its ability to provide a functional and engaging outdoor space for the children at Rainbow Academy.

IMG_0086-min

Best Buds deliver weekly Forest School sessions in the space and an afterschool club.