St Laurence School is a comprehensive academy for 11-18 year olds in the historic Wiltshire town of Bradford on Avon. Established in 1980, the school has an intriguing heritage as it rests on an ancient Roman villa!
Long Rake Spar were fascinated to learn that in hot dry weather the staff noticed parch marks appearing on the playing field and that aerial photographs then revealed the outline of the villa in the grass.
In a circle surround by stone setts, outside of the main building sit three majestic London Plane trees – leaning in unison in the path of a natural wind tunnel. SureSet were recently contacted by Valetta Surfacing to ask if they could replace the resin bound paving that they had installed in 2004 (when their guarantee was 10 years) around the trees to create a substantial tree pit.
Due to extreme leaning of the trees, caused by the wind tunnel, the resin bound paving was becoming displaced around the tree roots.
To help ensure the London Plane Trees remained impressive, SureSet installed their 10mm Barley Beach resin bound paving around them. Containing Long Rake’s beautiful natural Grantex aggregates, the paving provides an impressive home for the trees.
Now affectionately known as ‘the biscuit’, the newly SureSetted tree pit is a low maintenance, accessible area outside the reception area.
The three beautiful London Planes have room around the bottom of the trunks to allow for growth and movement with no protruding roots – which also eliminates the potential for tripping.
The trees can look forward to at least another 18 years of undisturbed peace.
Contractors: SureSet Permeable Paving
Client: Valetta Surfacing
Client: St Laurence School