The Ethos of Robert Sergent Fairley

• To provide as many School Children as possible, with a Natural Green Environment, for Play, Relaxation and Study
• To create an awareness of the benefits of a Natural Green Environment as opposed to Artificial and Hard Surroundings
• To help children to experience a Healthier and Happier School Lifestyle to be gained from Natural Green Surroundings
• To teach basic Horticulture and Gardening Techniques, through demonstration and a “Hands On” approach
• To impart an understanding of Ecology
• To create a Sensory Garden and Wildflower Area in every School
• To create a Vegetable Area and a Fruit Area in every School
• To introduce School Children to the Reasoning behind Sustainability and Conservation of the World in which they live

Robert has never lost his love of Nature; his desire to fill as many spaces as possible with Trees, Shrubs Perennials, Plants in general, Lawns, Bog Areas, Sensory Gardens and Wild flower Areas is self evident in his plethora of his Amazing Planting Designs.

Bangabandhu must be one of the luckiest schools in the country - Robert and his team of master craftsmen have just finished an absolutely mind blowing design project for the school. The playground features many innovative design ideas, never before seen in the UK. Shown to the left is a UK first - Gypsy Caravans. When the caravan arrived all lessons at the school came to a halt as children and teachers alike ran outside to get a better look.

Quote from the Head - "I could never have imagined, in my wildest dreams, that our old asphalt playground could have been transformed into such an Amazing Natural Green Oasis, in the middle of our city. The children are very eager to see their new playground finished and incessantly talk about what is taking shape in front of their eyes"

Photos Banga Bandhu Junior School Bethnal Green >>

Robert clearly recalls his own earliest Infant School Playground, where he had large green spaces with tall leafy trees and a Farmyard next door. He vividly remembers his “playtimes” of running, jumping, rolling and sitting on a big old log, with his school friends. He also thinks back fondly to the School Nature Table, which they would fill with leaves, twigs, moss and anything they could find in the School Grounds.

Robert would like to see a Wild Flower Area and Sensory Garden, either large or small (or both) in every school in the UK. His desire is “for School Children of all ages, to participate in the understanding, the enjoyment and the sustaining of their own Wild flower Natural Habitat”.

He also “loathes the Standard Wire Fencing and the solid brick walls, generally erected around School Playground Areas”. He completely “despises the Multi Coloured Modular Play Structures prevalent in most School Playgrounds”.

He blames all these “abominations” on the basic lack of Garden Design Knowledge. Many of these companies, he complains, are primarily Local Architects or are Local Council Design Offices, who have no Horticultural or Permacultural knowledge or interest, whatsoever; furthermore, from viewing their recent School Playground Designs, he doubts whether any of them have ever heard of “The 6 Areas Of Learning” for Infants.