Local students design benches for Stansfeld Park

There’s nothing like finding a quiet bench in the corner of a beautiful woodland to sit and contemplate life with the sound of birds and the rustle of trees. That’s why we’re installing bespoke outdoor seating at Stansfeld Park and why we’re recruiting first-year students at Rycotewood Furniture Centre, part of City of Oxford College, to come up with some imaginative designs. In conjunction with Gaze Burvill and timber specialists Vastern Timber, students have been tasked with designing a bench inspired by ecology, a science eureka moment or something to do with the history of the site. The competition is launched this week and designs have to be submitted by December in the form of a 3D model. A judging panel will select the four designs to manufacture. The winning benches will be made from either green oak or thermally-modified timber and installed on site in May 2019. Not only will the winning students see their designs in situ but they’ll also get a £200 cash prize. Exciting!