The previous play area on site was old, uninspiring, and poorly located. The toddler area was located close to the site entrance while the junior area was on the completely other side of the football field. This meant parents with children of different ages struggled to maintain visibility on their children at the same time. The junior area was also prone to becoming boggy in the wetter months and wasn’t used heavily by families in the village. When we met with Eleanor and Sarah, the Clerk and Chair of the parish council who were leading the project on Margaret Harker's behalf, they explained to us these issues and requested a more integrated proposal with a completely new and exciting play area for the 0 – 14 age group.
The eibe design team came up with a fantastic design using timber play equipment on steel feet with nature-inspired wetpour rubber safety surfacing. This was submitted to the council as part of their tender process and evaluated against other playground companies' proposals. We were delighted to have been chosen by the council as their preferred supplier, and then the real work began...
The parish council was in the process of going for funding from National Highways, who were and still are at the point of the play area project completion, in the process of undertaking significant works to the road infrastructure in the local area. As part of this process, the parish council required assistance and supporting documents from eibe to help them secure the funding. We provided any information we had that could help, were present for public consultations on the design, and generally worked hand in hand with the council. Everyone involved was over the moon when the decision for funding was granted and the play area manufacture and installation could get underway.
At this stage, the projects team was introduced to the parish council, representatives of Margaret Harker Hall, and The Football Club. Working on a site with so many invested parties meant communication for the project had to be very frequent. One of eibe’s project managers, Greg, ran the install, which took place in the winter months and over the Christmas break. He successfully navigated challenges with the weather, leaving little damage to the surrounding grass areas and officially finishing on site mid-February.
The new play area is a completely new experience of play compared to the previous play area, offering physical, social, and sensory play opportunities. The equipment in the toddler area includes a toddler multiplay with 2 slides, a balance trail, 2 spring rockers, a sensory sound rain wheel, a seesaw, an inground trampoline, a roleplay train with tunnel and net, a double cradle swing, and an inclusive spinning carousel. The equipment in the junior area includes a double bay flat seat swing, a basket swing, a snake swing, and a huge feature climbing unit.
The completed play area is an imaginative, well-rounded space for families to enjoy and is now very popular with local families! If you would like more information on this project, please let us know.