We invite you to meet the winners of the ‘Our Backyard’ competition. As part of the series, we will present the 13 best projects from Poland and Ukraine. Each one includes an original description of the work carried out and photographic or/and film documentation.
We are looking forward to a full blossoming of projects, but for now, we invite you to read on!
🌷 Project ‘ART&EKO – A Space for Nature, A Space for Us’
Submitted by: Joanna Bułat
School: School Complex of Agri-Entrepreneurship in Rzeszów
Participants: pupils, aged 17
Author’s description of the project:
As part of practical landscape architecture classes, fourth-year students enrolled in the Landscape Architecture Technician programme, under the supervision of their vocational teacher, carried out a project to redevelop a neglected section of land adjacent to the school garden. The school has access to this area and the owners’ permission to carry out all necessary maintenance and landscaping work.
The site was significantly degraded, with numerous branches left over from tree maintenance, old wooden pallets, municipal waste, and decaying tree stumps scattered across the area.
🧑🌾 What work did we carry out as part of the project?
The first stage involved thoroughly cleaning the site by sorting and removing waste and selecting plant material for reuse. The next step was to create a spatial installation using natural materials such as branches and twigs. Larger, sharpened branches were firmly anchored into the ground to form the framework of an arch-shaped structure.
The project was designed not only for its aesthetic value but also for its ecological benefits. Some of the branches were intentionally left in an organised structure to provide shelter for small animals, such as hedgehogs, and to support local biodiversity, especially during the winter months.
Branches with sharp thorns that could not be reused were safely burned in a bonfire, which also allowed the project team to spend time together and strengthen their cooperation.
In the next phase, the students designed and created an information board (included in the project documentation) explaining the purpose and implementation of the project. They also made a crane sculpture from twigs and grasses, which was placed in front of the arch structure. The school community enthusiastically received the installation—students and teachers even gave it a name. The project has since inspired further ideas for similar land art installations within the school garden.
🧑🌾 How long did it take?
The entire project was completed over two working days, comprising a total of 12 hours of practical classes. Thanks to the students’ commitment and a well-planned concept, the neglected area was transformed into an attractive, functional, and welcoming recreational space that also serves an important educational and ecological purpose.
👉 Be sure to take a look at the photos from the project implementation.
We encourage you to explore all episodes of the series.
Episode 1: ‘Flower Paradise’
Episode 2: ‘School Flower Bed’
Episode 3: ‘Our Garden’
Episode 4: ‘Patio MakeOver‘
Episode 5: ‘In the School Garden’
Episode 6: ‘Our Backyard’
Episode 7: ‘Under the Catalpa Tree’
Episode 8: ‘Flower Path’
Episode 9: ‘Colourful Nature Corner’
Episode 10: ‘Insect House’
