School playgrounds across Cardiff are set to become greener, cooler and more resilient to climate change as part of an ambitious programme to create climate-adaptive learning spaces for pupils.
The project aims to transform school grounds in areas most vulnerable to climate impacts such as overheating, flooding and biodiversity loss. Five schools – Ysgol Mynydd Bychan, Gabalfa Primary School, St Cadoc’s Catholic Primary School, Glyncoed Primary School and St Illtyd’s High School – are initially ear-marked for the project, which is a partnership between environmental charity Trees for Cities and Cardiff Council as part of the local authority’s One Planet Cardiff response to climate change.
The climate-adaptive ‘Healthy Playground’ programme builds on a successful five-year partnership between Cardiff Council and Trees for Cities that has already seen transformative green spaces introduced to 40 school playgrounds.
The first transformation has already been completed at Ysgol Mynydd Bychan in Cathays, where sections of traditional hard-surfaced playground have been replaced with a nature-rich, climate change-resilient environment with improved opportunities for outdoor learning, play and wellbeing.
Head Teacher at Ysgol Mynydd Bychan, Glesni Lloyd, said: “It’s a fantastic addition to the school that benefits the children in so many different ways. At break times when it’s hot, you might find them simply enjoying the shade from the trees, but it’s also a great teaching aid. The children love learning outdoors and it’s helping our staff deliver science lessons in new and exciting ways that get them really enthused and engaged. Plus, they love helping to plant and grow all the different vegetables and herbs – that’s a life skill that will stay with them forever.”
Features of the space at Ysgol Mynydd Bychan include trees to provide shade, a mediterranean garden planted with species that will continue to thrive as our climate gets increasingly hotter, raised planting areas for growing herbs and vegetables, wildlife-friendly habitats, as well as a wormery and a rainwater harvesting system.
At other selected schools where playgrounds are prone to flooding, designs have been created that include ‘rain gardens’ to provide sustainable drainage solutions.
Following the transformation, local charity Grow Cardiff are using the space at Ysgol Mynydd Bychan to deliver regular hands-on sessions that help pupils learn about food growing, biodiversity and climate action. These sessions form part of a wider engagement programme that combines the physical improvements with workshops, teacher training and learning resources linked to the Welsh curriculum.
Cardiff Council Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Strategic Planning and Transport, Cllr Dan De’Ath, who visited Ysgol Mynydd Bychan recently to see the transformation, said: “Our children and young people will experience the effects of climate change more than any previous generation, so it is vital that we help our schools adapt while giving pupils opportunities to learn about the challenges ahead and the practical steps they can take – like growing and eating more locally grown food – to reduce their carbon footprint and help create a One Planet Cardiff.”
Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Sarah Merry added: “These climate-adaptive playgrounds can make a real difference. By creating greener, cooler and more biodiverse school environments, we’re also creating an even more Child Friendly Cardiff that helps protect pupils from the impact of climate change and provides them with fantastic new spaces to learn, play and connect with nature.”
Head of Programme Development at Trees for Cities, Carys Alder, said: “The transformation at Ysgol Mynydd Bychan shows what’s possible when strong partnerships turn ambition into action. Together with Cardiff Council, Grow Cardiff and the school community, we’ve transformed a tarmacked playground into a greener, climate-adapted space that inspires outdoor learning and strengthens children’s connection to nature.
“We hope this builds momentum for more climate-adaptive playgrounds across Cardiff helping to deliver lasting change that will benefit today’s pupils and generations to come.”
Grow Cardiff Schools Engagement Co-ordinator, Ruth Mumford, said: “Grow Cardiff have loved seeing the transformation of this school playground into the busy growing space that it now is. The whole school has been involved and seeing the obvious joy of the pupils growing and picking their fresh vegetables and herbs means so much to our team.
“The children love being out in the space, and it’s great to see it being used for outdoor learning, with children learning new skills and understanding how important local food growing, nature and biodiversity is when taking their first steps towards climate action.”
Cardiff Council funding for the project comes from its One Planet Cardiff Capital Fund which supports innovative climate-related projects across all areas of the Council’s work. Previous projects supported through the fund include: a rainwater harvesting system for the greenhouses in Bute Park Nurseries, secure cycle parking facilities in the city centre, and making thermal imaging cameras available to borrow from Cardiff’s libraries so that residents can identify heat loss in their homes.
