Play & Activity February 2017

Putting the spotlight on the vibrant play industry

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Tackling the continuing problem of #nowheretoplay

As an increasing number of children in the UK continue to have nowhere safe to play, the Association of Play Industries (API) is stepping up its campaign to encourage central and local government to play a more proactive role in reversing the trend.

The Government has made housebuilding and the creation of new communities an on-going priority and is encouraging growth in the industry through a raft of incentives and new initiatives.

The API, along with a number of other national bodies, is campaigning to ensure the provision of play areas and green spaces is high up the list of considerations when planning these new communities.

It is also continuing to gauge public opinion on the provision of play facilities for children and plans to use the findings of this research to call for more and better facilities.

Mark Hardy, Chair of the API, said: “We are at a tipping point

Major new funding to keep nation active

Sport England is to invest nearly £88 million of National Lottery and Government funding in 26 national governing bodies of sport (NGB) in addition to opening two separate open funding programmes.

Every investment made follows a new customer-led approach, where the needs and wants of the player, athlete or participant come first.Around one third of people (14.9 million) are currently in sport’s ‘core market’ – the people

who have a strong affinity with sport, including talented athletes trying to reach the top. Sport England wants to continue to support them and help grow the market by reducing drop out.

Key investments include: gymnastics (£8,333,000); hockey (£9,030,000); cycling (£17,310,000); badminton (£7,250,000); cricket (£7,600,000); para-swimming (£850,000) Sport England will also invest heavily into governing bodoes and Phil Smith, director of sport, says: “These investments allow governing bodies to reach the customers they know best, and provide them with their regular sport in the way they want it.

“These are investments in clubs, in coaches, in matches and in competitions – the ‘core market’ of sport.”

Sport England Enquiry 71

as far as physical inactivity goes.

“Children are naturally hardwired to play and be physically active, yet inactivity as a root cause of obesity is now an entrenched health crisis.

“Without tackling this significant issue from the ground up, we risk overburdening the NHS as it struggles to cope with the effects. Play has a vital contribution to make in getting children moving more.

“There has never been greater need for the ‘bold, brave measures’ promised - but sadly missing from - the government’s obesity strategy.”

According to the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP), obesity prevalence in the school year 2015/16 was more than twice as high in year 6 (19.8%) as in reception (9.3%).

Obesity has increased since 2014/15 in both reception (9.1% in 14/15) and year 6 (19.1% in 2014/15), with over a fifth of children (22.1%) in reception

and a third (34.2%) in year 6 now overweight or obese. Children living in the most deprived areas were twice as likely to be obese than those living in the least deprived areas, and boys were more likely to be obese than girls.

“The Prime Minister said she would review the national obesity strategy if its measures weren’t effective,” added Mark Hardy.

“There isn’t a minute to lose. Local authority budgets are under pressure – parks are being sold off and playgrounds closed. Many children simply have nowhere to play. This is a national disgrace and contravenes their fundamental human rights.

The API’s mission is two-fold: to convince policy makers of the benefits of play to children’s development, physical and mental health and well-being; and to provide high-quality facilities for play and physical activity that benefit local communities.

Enquiry 70

Proludic has unveiled new concepts for 2017

Manufacturer Proludic has unveiled its new 2017 brochure, which includes the launch of two new multi play ranges - one is a rework of an old favourite and the other is a completely new concept, Kidzy.

The popular Kanopé multi play range adventure has been developed with new elements, combining a modern aspect with natural inspirations.

It builds on the existing Kanopé image, but with increased modularity and enhanced play features Kanopé also widens the user age range.

The combinations offered are composed of 1,17m high platforms (allowing children from two years old easy access), up to 1,77m high (for dynamic and physical activities using

climbing and sliding play features aimed at older children).

The elements connecting the platforms also provide more modularity for numerous combinations of various play features, dimensions and aesthetic effects.

Proludic Enquiry 72

The investments and work will come into force in April 2017 and follows detailed discussions with each governing body about what contribution they can make to our new strategy.

API

Huxley Golf reaches new heights

Huxley Golf has proved that the sky’s the limit when the world leader in all-weather golf surfaces installed golf greens high in the Hong Kong skyline in a partnership with GolfTEC.

Two Huxley Golf modular putting greens were installed at the brand new GolfTEC centre in Admiralty, Hong Kong.

The first, a large and beautifully designed outdoor roof-top green of approximately 1,000sq.ft. (92m2), was created using Huxley Golf Premier Nylon Outdoor Putting Green Turf complete with integrated Huxley Turfill® 2 filler to achieve optimum ball roll.

The second was installed indoors: a 12ft (3.7m) x 18ft (5.5m) green constructed using Huxley Golf Championship Indoor Putting Turf with three hole positions. Paul Chester, General Manager at Huxley Golf, said: “It was an interesting brief which required

us to work through rooftop weight restrictions and the complications of delivering and installing at height.

“Taking a modular approach enabled us to work around these complexities to create precisely the required facilities, both technically and aesthetically. We are extremely pleased with the result.”

GolfTEC is one of the fastest growing and most successful golf tuition companies in the industry. All studentsregardless of their initial skill level - follow the same proven and comprehensive approach to helping them achieve their goals. Combining patented teaching technology and highly trained coaches, the company has delivered over 6 million lessons globally.

Mark Henderson, GolfTEC Hong Kong’s Chief Operating Officer and PGA AA Advanced

Professional, commented: “Both the indoor and outdoor greens give our students the ability to develop the most important part of the game, their putting skills. They provide both places to take instruction and somewhere to practise independently, day or night, rain or shine.

“Huxley Golf was a natural fit for this project. Some of our team here have worked with them before at tour events and this prior experience, along

with the Huxley Golf’s PGA accreditations, meant we knew we could trust them to deliver a first class solution and service.”

Huxley Golf provides premier all-weather surfaces for golf around the world. Clients include training and coaching establishments, golf resorts, ranges and academies as well as many well-known golf courses.

Huxley Golf Enquiry 74

Notts Sports launch new IntriCut service

A brand new service has been brought to life by Notts Sport Ltd, using surface cutting technology and specialist machinery.

State of the art CAD technology means that both elaborate and simple designs can be accommodated, expertly cut from synthetic surfacing and pieced together to create bespoke flooring designs.

This investment reinforces the company’s position at the forefront of innovation in the industry.

With a spectrum of vibrant colours, and with endless scope for creating complex patterns, shapes and designs, IntriCut will provide the perfect solution for a number of outcomes, including: imaginative playground surfacing; sports turf logos; unique exhibition spaces and more.

Duncan Bennett, Managing Director of Notts Sport commented: “One of the most exciting growth areas we are seeing is for bespoke designs and logos to be incorporated into the

play and sport facilities we deliver throughout the UK and abroad.

“IntriCut is already proving that it can provide a world class solution to meet this demand whilst at the same time allowing us to diversify into new markets with new innovative & high quality products.

“Indeed, innovation is an integral part of Notts Sport’s company values and IntriCut illustrates yet again how we listen to our customers and constantly invest in Research & Development. This state of the art technology is specifically designed to deliver the requirements of new and existing customers”.

Shaun Patrick, Chairman of Notts Sports added: “IntriCut will provide endless possibilities for clients to brand their sports facilities as well as allowing play providers the opportunity to create fun-filled play surfacing for their projects.”

Notts Sport Enquiry 75

Wicksteed wows Welsh Water

A play area situated right in front of a huge dam is an awesome sight and a terrific place to expend some energy on challenging, tactile and adventurous equipment whilst also having fun.

This site, located at Elan Valley Visitor Centre and operated by Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, is play provision at its most inspirational.

Wicksteed won the contract as part of a four-site project, each of which total in the region of £75,000.

Most of the inspiration for the timber-led scheme came from the surroundings which provide the perfect framework for some thrilling, multi-play products that offer plenty of opportunities for spinning, sliding, swinging and

climbing activities to be pursued. Entering through the handcarved timber entrance play area reveals a special, bespoke Dam Climbing Wall. A huge Hillary unit, complete with Monkey Bars, Steel Slide and multiple climbing and traversing features provides loads of challenging, physical fun.

A natural Agility Trail with playful Mounds, Balance Beams and Log Posts is another great feature. The Scramble Net Climber and Log Swings offer more adventurous play and the carved timber Totem Pole and Toadstool seats provide charming additions to this bold and enticing water-side adventure zone.

Odds Farm renew play interest with Timberplay

High Wycombe family favourite, Odds Farm have renewed their play facilities with the addition of a brand new Timberplay play area, designed to complement their existing Timberplay water and sand play areas.

One of the largest Farm Attractions in the UK, Odds Farm consistently score highly on Trip Advisor and continually reinvest to ensure visitors return time and time again.

They seek to enhance their offering every year and this year made a significant investment with Timberplay to create an extensive adventure play area.

This follows on from the creation of a sand and water play area, designed by Timberplay, which was introduced to the site on 2014 and a toddler play area in 2013. This new play development expands the reach of the attraction to older children as it features more challenging equipment.

A complex configuration of equipment creates a play focal

point, with walkways, rope bridges and slides selected to delight children across a wide age range.

Climbing Walls, Jack Straw See Saws, Jumping Discs and Hexagonal Swings all also feature. All equipment has been selected to accommodate the large number of visitors that Odds Farm regularly gets during busy periods.

Odds Farm Manager, Steve Wenman comments: “The Play Area is a big hit with the kids, the visitor feedback has been excellent and it definitely has the wow factor we were looking for.”

Odds Farm Park was established 21 years ago near Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, and has grown year on year to become one of the largest farm attractions in the UK attracting over 200,000 visitors per annum. They are one of the most high profile members of the National Farm Attractions Network (NFAN)

Enquiry 78

Game, set and match for Garside Sands

Specialist silica sand manufacturer introduces advanced solution for synthetic tennis courts

Aggregate Industries’ specialist sands division, Garside Sands, has launched an innovative sport sand that can be used to replicate the performance of a clay tennis court when used in conjunction with a suitable synthetic carpet.

Terracotta Sand is an advanced alternative application for synthetic tennis courts, which has been engineered to replicate the performance characteristics normally attributed only to a traditional clay surface.

The unique mineralogy of the sand and the thermal process involved (‘calcining’) maintains the integrity of the sand and creates the required terracotta colour. Unlike authentic clay courts, using this engineered method means a court requires minimum

maintenance to meet the requisite performance criteria and can be used all year round.

Clive Martin, commercial manager at Garside Sands, explained: “This is a significant step in the development of sport sand and provides an alternative, low maintenance solution for synthetic tennis courts.

“The sand infill of Terracotta Sand replicates the slide and bounce that is normally unique to a clay surface – something that was substantiated by all of the professional coaches and players we consulted, who remarked that the play characteristics of the surface were similar to that of a traditional clay court.

“A thorough testing process was also carried out in the Climatic Chamber at Staffordshire University, where researchers found that the terracotta colour was resistant to abrasive wear and environmental degradation,

after subjecting the sand to the equivalent of a seven-year cycle.

Terracotta Sand has already been utilised for courts nationally and internationally, including at the University of Warwick. Based on this early advantage, we’re excited to see what aces the product serves in the future.”

Autism school unveils new MUGA

A new multi-sports pitch for children with autism has gone down a storm at its official opening at an Essex special school.

The MUGA at Doucecroft School in Colchester was opened last month after supporters raised the £60,000 target to install the pitch.

Doucecroft School is a specialist co-educational school for children and young people with autism and additional complex needs, aged 3-19 years. Doucecroft has successfully nurtured students with wide-ranging strengths and needs, and enabled them to grow in independence and self-esteem since founding nearly 40 years ago.

The school is part of Autism Anglia, a charity that provides a range of services across East Anglia to enable children, young people and adults with autism to live as independently as possible

and experience choice and inclusion in society.

Doucecroft appointed Sportsafe, an international provider of sports equipment installation, service and maintenance whose head office is in Colchester, to work with the management team to plan, design and deliver a bespoke MUGA for the children to enjoy all year round.

Sportsafe turned to Suffolk contractor MTA Leisure for the fencing, who specified steel fencing manufacturer Zaun’s 3m-high Duo8 Super Rebound twin horizontal wire panels, which are highly durable, low maintenance, ‘graffiti-proof’ and offer great rebound properties similar to a wall.

The new MUGA was put through its paces at the opening ceremony in a number of football matches

Construction and building materials supplier, Aggregate Industries is a leading supplier of specialist silica sand, with quarries in Ardleigh, Leighton Buzzard and Levenseat.

Aggregate Industries Enquiry 79

Timberplay

between Doucecroft and another SEN partner school nearby.

Donors included: The PJK Charitable Trust; The Anglian Community Trust; Colchester Catalyst Charity, The Peter

Harrison Trust, the Pantaloon Theatre Company, Reedmans Florists, collection money from Waterwise at Poplar Nurseries and Lisa Rivers.

Zaun Enquiry 80

Getting back on the skateboarding map

Work to build a brand new skate plaza at King Edward Park in St Ann’s, Nottingham, is progressing.

Plans put together in collaboration with community skateboarding organisation, Skate Nottingham, Nottingham City Council (NCC) and local contractor, Robert Woodhead Ltd, include influence from iconic parks around the world. Designs have now been finalised by specialist skatepark design firm, CANVAS, and work is set to started on the £80,000 scheme in November.

The new park will include inspiration from some of the

world’s most iconic skate plazas.

From the John F Kennedy Plaza in Philadelphia to the city of Malmo in Sweden, which has gone from a city that once deemed skateboarders a ‘nuisance’, to one that is internationally recognised as a premier skateboarding destination.

Close to the city centre and the Creative Quarter, the new facility will be perfectly placed to build on the wider creative and cultural aspects of skateboarding, including photography, film, digital media, art and design, as well as encouraging healthy and active lifestyles.

Canvas Enquiry

TigerTurf completes the first RFU Rugby Turf project

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TigerTurf has handed over the first Rugby Football Union (RFU) Rugby Turf project at Hornets RFC in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset – one of a planned 100 3G rugby pitches that will be built as part of its Rugby World Cup legacy plans and revised National Facilities Strategy.

Having been awarded two of the five pilot Rugby Turf projects, TigerTurf and Framework partner, McArdle Sport Tec,

Inspect a Lewes

Working in conjunction with Lewes District Council, eibe Play recently installed a dual site at Ouesdale Road near the town centre.

Project co-ordinator Christopher Bibb is delighted with the outcome, as the playspace has regenerated the area, offering play and exercise to all ages.

The design plans came to fruition in the autumn of last year and, with the installation

team pulling out all the stops, eibe completed the project days before the festive break.

At a cost of just under £22,000, the two parks situated either side of the road feature an Alexander Play House, a chain-linked Train, a Spring Rocker and an ecorino Gamma unit. The Gamma in particular is packed full of play value, including sliding, climbing, balancing and swinging.

eibe Enquiry 86

have undertaken an 8140m 2 installation of TigerTurf’s new Rugby 360 surface.

The RFU will manage the facility at Hornets RFC, providing access to a firstclass 3G pitch for training and competitive fixtures not only for the host club, but also for other rugby and sports clubs from across the county.

Tranmere Rovers captain congratulates school team at opening of new playground

Tranmere Rovers Captain Steven Jennings has given a thumbs up to a new school playground when he called round to officially open it.

The tough tackling midfielder, who has led his side into the play off positions this season, gave a rousing team talk when he attended the official opening at Our Lady and St Edward’s Catholic Primary School in Birkenhead.

And he praised young members of the Good Samaritans who have worked hard to help fund the new £25,000 pirate ship playground for their early years pupils.

The new facility was designed, manufactured and installed by outdoor play experts, Creative Play, and also features a superb play tower from the company’s new Jigsaw range.

The Chester-based family firm’s mission involved turning a “blank canvas” into a dream destination designed to challenge youngsters’ physical, motor and social skills.

Liverpool-born Steven Jennings thought the children’s super new facility scored highly and praised the children for achieving their goal.

Spread over a large area laid partly with tarmac and partly with grass, the playground features a pirate ship and a terrific play tower from Creative Play’s newly launched Jigsaw range which allows clients to piece together their own tower from 30

different components suitable for different ages and abilities.

There are also balance beams, stepping logs, playhouse, picnic benches and a sandbox.

Jim Gambino from Creative Play oversaw the project. He said: “We met with the school back in June with a view to developing an early years play area and talked through some ideas about what kind of play features they wanted.

“What we came up with was a climbing structure, including a play tower from our new Jigsaw range, with a pirate ship feature to encourage imaginative role play and exploration. Once the designs were in place, the installation of the equipment took 14 days. It was great because we started with a blank canvas.

“The wide range of play features encourages development, creativity, imagination, exploration and role play as well as physical movement skills. To us, every child matters and every child is different so we promote inclusion and make sure no child is left out.”

Each Creative Play playground is designed to suit the client’s specifications, depending on their budget and location.

All of Creative Play’s equipment is designed and manufactured in Chester by the company’s in house teams, who use state of the art equipment and each specialise in timber, plastic or metal.

Play Enquiry 85

Creative

TigerTurf Enquiry 84

Fields in Trust Cymru launch new green space guidance

New benchmark guidelines for the design of spaces for outdoor sport and play have been published by Fields In Trust Cymru.

Guidance for Outdoor Sport and Play: Beyond the Six Acre Standard, was launched at Green Space Wales Symposium for practitioners.

The guidance is a crucial tool for local planning authorities, developers, planners, urban

designers and landscape architects in the design of outdoor sport, play and informal open space.

Writing in the foreword of the document Dame Tanni GreyThompson said: “To create an active nation one of the things that we need to do is make sure that appropriate outdoor recreational opportunities are available to everyone regardless of age or ability.

“We also have to recognise the role of play in developing physical literacy in young children. All important things for the future. Without access to grassroots facilities there are many who will lose the chance to identify and hone their skills.”

Fields in Trust’s projects and protection programmes operate across the UK and in Wales, Fields in Trust Cymru has also developed its own unique projects such as Owain Glyndwr Fields.

It has supported the Welsh Government on the development of legislation and policy and, for the 2016 National Assembly for Wales elections, produced a playing fields manifesto.

Fields in Trust

Enquiry 90

Jupiter Play structure for Drumpellier Country Park

In July 2016, a £4.5 million funding boost from the Heritage Lottery Fund was announced for the development of the Seven Lochs Wetland Park.

As part of the £6.8 million project, Drumpellier Country Park will be developed as a gateway to the Seven Lochs and a hub for heritage conservation, learning and engagement.

Jupiter Play have been awarded the design of the bespoke Crannog play unit and supporting play equipment for the Drumpellier Country Park development.

Working closely with CultureNL both parties have created a strategy to build a new destination site and enhanced play provision for the whole of Scotland.

The Crannog adventure play design from Jupiter Play has been developed as a result of vast research and a detailed brief from CultureNL into traditional styles of Crannogs throughout Scotland and in particular that of the Crannog discovered within Lochend Loch.

From afar, the proposed Crannog Adventure Play Structure will be a prominent 6.5m high play feature and with the joint investment into the public facilities at Drumpellier will

help create a destination park for all users of mixed age and ability.

With the combined expertise of Jupiter Play and Inclusive Play we have created a fully accessible play unit which has passed the Inclusive Play PIPA assessment.

Combining the Crannog design with the existing hard standing path networks ensure the entire unit can accommodate wheelchair usage. The main entrance walkway, outer platforms, inner ‘roundhouse’ and underneath the entire structure are also fully accessible.

The main entrance walkway is 1.52m wide x 8m long with 1m high side barriers. We have incorporated an impressive 4.4m high feature entrance archway for climber planting. This walkway and the upper Crannog structure are elevated by 2.45m. This leads into the main converging space on the upper deck; from here users can prepare themselves and choose how to engage with the play on the upper deck experience.

The play area will be themed around an iron-age “crannog”, a traditional dwelling house constructed on stilts over water. Additional funding for the play area has been provided by the Landfill Communities Fund via WREN and the Coatbridge Local Area Group.

Charcon delivers new concept in cycleway segregation kerbing

Charcon, the commercial hard landscaping division of Aggregate Industries, has delivered its latest innovative concept in cycleway segregation kerbing for the first phase of Nottingham City Council’s new Western Corridor cycleway route.

While a cycleway solution had already been specified by Nottingham City Council, the client chose to adopt Charcon’s new innovative cycleway segregation system after learning how it had added significant value to the high profile CS2 project in London, while offering increased safety to not only cycleway users but contractors installing the units on site.

Mike Davies, specification manager for Charcon, explains: “Our cycle kerb is a one unit

Play & Leisure The Power of Play

concrete segregation system, which means much of the work can be done off site. The benefit being that it speeds up construction and reduces the impact on road users.

“The segregation system for Nottingham was designed to meet the project’s exact specification. It features a half batter along the carriageway, capable of withstanding vehicular impact, and a splay edge on the cycleway side, which significantly reduces the chance of cyclists catching a pedal.

“Being on the blind side of a lorry or bus is a dangerous place for a cyclist. By installing the kerb on just one side of the carriageway, these cyclists are safely segregated from the blind spots of passing traffic.

“Having experience of delivering this type of product on a large scale, we were able to confidently hit the ground running and ensure phase one of the project was delivered on time and on budget.”

To date, 400l/m of Charcon’s new innovative cycle kerb has been manufactured, supplied and installed for the first phase of the project along Castle Boulevard.

Charcon Enquiry

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Jupiter Play Enquiry 92