What began as a research initiative in 1986 to assess the use and design of the UK’s school grounds, later turned into an independent nonprofit organization called Learning through Landscapes (LtL), which promotes the widespread development of school grounds. LtL works to enable teachers and students to engage in positive outdoor experiences through funding opportunities, teacher training, innovative projects like the My School, My Planet program, and the transformation of school grounds and outdoor community spaces into nature-rich landscapes. As advocates for play and experiential learning, LtL sits on UK-wide play advisory bodies such as The Ministerial Play Review for Wales.

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“When teachers take lessons outside, one of the positive benefits is it becomes a really inclusive space. A child or young person that may be struggling within the classroom can thrive learning outdoors because it’s a different way of learning,” says Carley Sefton, CEO of Learning through Landscapes

“I think [the children] are working as a more cohesive group — the teamwork and the camaraderie has really improved. They also have increased vocabulary. The words they are coming up to use with their writing is a vast improvement. It’s a fabulous opportunity for children. Learning in context is a great learning experience for teachers and pupils alike,” says Donna Clark, primary school teacher.