School Memorial Garden, Castleford

Vector have been engaging with the local community by preparing design proposals for a memorial garden at Fairburn View Primary School in Castleford, West Yorkshire.  The garden area will be created within the school grounds to commemorate the life of a former pupil who was killed whilst serving in Afghanistan.

The garden radiates around an existing memorial tree with an arrangement of bespoke vertical hardwood timber posts used to create a sense of enclosure and define the central contemplation space.  Within the feature space a planting palette consisting of ornamental grasses, herbaceous planting and fragrant-rich shrub species will be used to create a truly immersive and sensual experience.

The accessible design caters for all through the use of resin bound gravel surfacing on the footpaths and provides a comfortable space for parents to sit and relax before the hustle and bustle of school closing time.   A secondary area beyond the central space provides an area for the pupils to engage in growing edible plants such as vegetables, herbs and soft fruit enabling the children to develop a passion for growing produce and understanding of where food comes from.