Shades are now being built in kindergartens in Tampere because the yards are too hot – this is why trees are often missing

During the construction phase, we often find ourselves in a situation where we are forced to cut down trees. The landscape architect believes that the importance of vegetation should be recognised when planning a kindergarten.

Shade trees are rarely found in the yards of new nurseries.

– They are difficult to preserve. Large areas of soil often have to be excavated, and the roots suffer.

Yle reported earlier on how Tampere and other cities are rushing to build more shade shelters in kindergarten yards due to the increasing heatwaves. In some cases, not even shade trees can be found in the yards.

According to Mannonen, some trees have been stored in the yards of new kindergartens. It has both good and bad experiences.

In the day care centers of Lielahti and Irjala, this was attempted, but the trees died up.

In Tahmala, the trees were retained slightly, but less than originally planned.

– On the small plots of downtown, storing trees can be challenging anyway, as there may not be a lot of space in the playground.

According to Mannonen’s view, architects will, if possible, try to maintain trees when planning day care centers.

There are guidelines for designing gardens

National Construction Information Help Card is helped to design the outdoor facilities of kindergartens.

The card has a good and well -functioning practices for the design of kindergartens and their exterior.

The card was last updated in 2019. It states that trees are especially important in learning environments, and existing vegetation, especially the trees, should try to maintain as much as possible.

– It is a guide, not a regulation. Often, for example, the size of the plots guides construction and may be challenging to be able to follow the instructions.

According to Ariluoma, the importance of trees and vegetation should already be identified when planning a kindergarten.

– If its value is not recognized, it will be difficult to influence later. Trees may remain in the process.

According to Harri Mannonen, the design guide to Tampere day care centers was updated in 2023.

For the first time, it has been defined how large trees should be planted in the yards of the kindergarten. The chest height of the wood must be 14-16 cents or larger.

– Larger wood reaches the growth rate faster and offers shadow earlier. Bringing and planting a larger tree on the site is more expensive than a thumb thick.