.png)
Area of installation
đLittle Nest Day Nursery, London
đ March 2026
Introduction
Little Nest Day Nursery are an EYFS setting based in Catford, London, who got in touch with The Playground Company to help them develop two areas at their setting. The first area was their front entrance â this area was uninviting and did not reflect the high quality education that was happening on the inside of the nursery, with un-even artificial grass and concrete surfacing, and an old shelter that was not safe or fit for purpose. The second area was their nursery garden, which had the potential to be a welcoming and stimulating space for the children to use, but was a small space with a mixture of different surface types, making it difficult to utilize without some clever design intervention!
Front Entrance
To help improve the front entrance to the nursery, and give a positive first impression to children, parents/carers, and visitors to the nursery, we installed Luxury Artificial Grass with a river theme. This adds an exciting, imaginative play element to the surfacing while also ensuring it is a safe and durable all year round. We chose to keep their existing block paving path in the area to maintain a clear pathway to the entrance and break up the green and blue artificial grass.
We also added a Triangular Shade Sail to the corner of the area, to create a shaded space for parents to gather while waiting to pick up their children, and two Planter Benches to make the space feel even more welcoming while adding seating and incorporating nature into the space.
Nursery Garden
The second area took some more planning to ensure we incorporated all of the nurseries requirements; this involved clever design and utilizing the space in the most efficient way possible.
As the space was limited, we wanted to use the surfacing to add a play element for the children to enjoy â Luxury Artificial Grass was used in the area to make it level and usable all year round, then we added a Multi-Play Artificial Grass Roadway into the surfacing to give the children somewhere to use their bikes and scooters, helping them with physical development and understanding road safety.
We also created a designated Construction Zone by adding a Construction Wall, great for mark making and loose parts play, as well as utilizing an existing sunken soil pit to create a bespoke Sand Pit. We then added a timber lid so it could be covered, from unwanted guests and wet weather, when not in use.
Sheler and shade as also needed in the garden, to make sure the children could still get the benefits of outdoor learning and play during all weathers. In the project, we included a large Timber Canopy mounted to the building, and a triangular Shade Net Pergola with deck and bench seating. The pergola doesnât only provide shade, but also adds a pop of colour and creates an exciting performance stage to help children develop creativity, imagination and self-expression.
Result
We are extremely happy to have been chosen for this project and are very proud of what we have been able to achieve for the nurser; creating a versatile, engaging space that helps children in the Early Years Foundation Stage to develop in the seven areas of learning.