In May, families, children, staff and Crew gathered together at Greenbank Preparatory School & Day Nursery in Cheadle Hulme to officially open the brand new Wild Area, a space designed to spark imagination, encourage outdoor play and give children somewhere to climb, create, explore and simply be kids.

Seeing the transformation was pretty magical. But this project has always been about more than just a makeover.

At Practically Family, we’ve long believed we should be more than simply Holiday Club providers using school spaces during the holidays. We want to be part of the school community. We want to invest in the places and people around us and leave something behind that children can enjoy long after Holiday Club has packed away the footballs, glitter and inflatables.

So, together with Greenbank School, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work.

 



 

What was once an under-used grassy area has now been transformed into a wild space full of opportunities for adventure, creativity and calm moments alike.

 



 

There’s now:
-  A brand new seating area for gathering together
-  Storage filled with twigs, logs and branches ready for den building

 



 

-  New mud kitchens for messy play and imaginative creations
-  A roll-top bath ready for muddy play, planting and potion-making

 



 

-  A bug hotel and bee-friendly touches woven throughout the space
- A beautiful new bee mural celebrating the project’s sustainability theme

 



 

And, thanks to the votes of the pupils themselves:
- A climbing area made from wooden stepping stones
- A hammock-style area for relaxing, reading and switching off beneath the trees

 



 

The children were at the heart of this project from the very beginning, helping shape the ideas and vote for what mattered most to them.

 



 

One particularly special moment during the grand opening came when Autumn from Year 5 officially cut the ribbon and unveiled her winning plaque design, which will now live proudly in the Wild Area for years to come. We were delighted to be joined by Autumn’s family, alongside Greenbank School's Headteacher, Malcolm, to celebrate the occasion together.

 



 

And perhaps that’s what makes this space feel so special already.

It hasn’t simply been built for the children, it’s been created with them.

This Wild Area will now be enjoyed by Greenbank School's Nursery, Preschool, Infants and Juniors throughout the school year, as well as by Practically Family Clubbers during the holidays. A shared space for muddy boots, big imaginations, wild adventures and childhood memories still waiting to happen.