Phillip Withers was engaged to design the landscape for an Early Learning Centre, with the goal of softening the hard edges of this urban setting. The outdoor learning space needed to welcome everyone from babies through to kindergarteners, so the layout was carefully zoned to suit each age group while keeping nature at the heart of the experience.

For the littlest learners, the space feels open, soft and inviting—perfect for free play and sensory discovery. Textures, shapes, colours and changing temperatures all play a role, encouraging curiosity and exploration. A series of playful, intertwining circular forms guide the design, making the most of the compact footprint while creating pockets for adventure, learning and imagination.

Interactive zones include play equipment, gentle mounds and plenty of edible planting. Garden beds are filled with hardy, drought-tolerant and child-friendly plants that can be picked for snacks or used in craft activities—learning straight from the garden.

The project was brought to life with a hands-on planting day alongside the Phillip Withers team, where the children helped plant the garden and began learning how to care for it as it grows.