Play & Activity June 2018

API welcomes groundbreaking new research on parks and green spaces

Protectors and campaigners for our parks and green spaces, Fields in Trust, have released the findings from the first ever research study on parks and green spaces to use welfare weighting methodology.

Association of Play Industries Chair, Mark Hardy welcomed the “groundbreaking” research which, he said, will help to inform evidence-based policy decisions.

“Our Nowhere to Play research and campaign highlights an alarming decline in playgrounds across the UK – spaces which once lost could be gone forever –and the negative impact this has on children, families and whole communities,” he continued.

“Now for the fi rst time, Fields in Trust have quantifiable evidence of the value of parks and green spaces. The Wellbeing Value associated with the frequent use of local parks and green spaces is worth £34.2 billion per year to the entire UK adult population and parks are estimated to save the NHS around £111 million.

“There is also further evidence that our parks and green spaces contribute to a preventative health agenda, reduce future Exchequer expenditure, reduce health inequalities and increase social cohesion and equality. These spaces have been taken for granted – an essential part of the fabric of our lives – and now they are under threat.

“Such is the positive impact of our parks and green spaces, that to lose them will further exacerbate the obesity crisis and rising mental health problems, as well as increasing levels of loneliness across many sectors of the population.

“This research will enable the development of a strategy across multiple levels of local and central government to guide the provision of parks and green spaces. The research points to the fact that parks provide disproportionately higher levels of benefits to those in lower socioeconomic groups and means that it is now possible to identify those areas where investment will have the biggest impact on individuals and communities.

“We support Fields in Trust wholeheartedly in their work to prioritise our parks and green spaces and to ensure they are recognised as integral to the health and wellbeing of all of us.”

Odds Farm and Timberplay offer insight on boosting visitor numbers

Play specialists Timberplay joined forces with Odds Farm Park to host a Play Study Day, focusing on how play can be best utilised to boost visitor numbers and improve visitor satisfaction levels. The event, held at Odds Farm in Buckinghamshire featured an array of specialist speakers.

Attendees learned about; the history of play, the psychological reasoning behind play, the importance of risk and challenge within play, management and maintenance of play spaces, how to effectively market play and how to deal with negative feedback. There was also a site tour around Odds Farm and experience their

outdoor play areas first hand. Timberplay’s relationship with Odds Farm Park spans back to 2013 when the popular attraction installed a toddler role play area. This was soon followed by the creation of a sand and water play area in 2014 and an extensive Adventure Play Area in 2016.

More recently, Odds Farm revealed a new Adventure Play Fort last year and those attending the Study Tour will be one of the first to experience the farm’s amazing new water play area.

The work between the two was recently recognised within the industry after Timberplay won Best Trade Supplier at

The Association of Play Industries (API) www.apiplay.org is the lead trade the National Farm Attraction Network (NFAN) annual awards for the continued success in the work carried out at the farm.

Ben Harbottle, Sales Director at Timberplay commented: “Play is for all ages and Odds Farm features some great examples of how diverse play can be.”

Timberplay

body within the play sector and campaigns at the highest levels for policy recognition for play. Its members are leading manufacturers, installers, designers and distributors of both outdoor and indoor play equipment and safety surfacing. Founded in 1984, the API currently has 63 members.

The API operates under the umbrella of the Federation of Sports and Play Associations (FSPA), the national trade body responsible for representing 13 Associations in the UK’s sport and play industries.

API

Pupils swarm to longawaited play area

The children of Bentley C of E Primary School were treated to a fun Friday in early May, when neighbouring Bentley Play Park finally opened after two years of intense fundraising.

Beneath bright blue skies, the £50,000 scheme was given the red tape treatment by TV gardening celebrity Alan Titchmarsh and the excited school kids got first go on the brand new play equipment.

Throughout the campaign, eibe Play worked alongside and supported the team at Bentley

their quest. Consulting closely with clerk, Lorraine Jeffs, the plan was to introduce a more natural element to the play area to blend in with the local environment.

Lots of wooden features were thus specifi ed and eibe installed a bespoke unit from the Unique range reached by a Treehouse and Walk Bridge.

Surrounding the main feature are some tunnels and mounds, individual swings, seesaw and slide.

Spotlight on the vibrant play industry

Gerflor continues to ‘perform’ for Polo Farm Sports Club

In the last 30 years facilities at Polo Farm Sports Club have expanded to become a premier sporting venue and centre of excellence and are regularly used by the local community including.

Canterbury Hockey, Tennis, Cricket and Croquet Clubs, together with Canterbury Christ Church University, and a host of local schools, local businesses and members of the public.

A stringent set of, ‘only the best will do’ specifications ultimately led the club to choose Taraflex Sport M Performance from international flooring specialist Gerflor.

Jayne Scott-Kilvert, Manager, Polo Farm Sports Club commented: “We built our new sports hall back in September 2015 which has rough floor dimensions of 50m x 40m.

“This was in conjunction with Canterbury Christ Church University who under the terms of the agreement use many of the facilities here during the weekdays. Our primary aim when specifying the floor was to provide a world class surface for both indoor hockey and cricket.

“The Taraflex Sport M Performance floor has now been down for over 2 years and we are extremely

pleased with it. It runs very true for hockey, enabling a very high calibre of match to be played. Our cricketers have been amazed with the surface with both England and Kent players commenting on the perfect bounce.”

Taraflex vinyl sports flooring has been used in many international and local sporting events and is available in 17 colours and three wood-effect designs.

The Sport M Performance product offers a P2 category shock absorbency 35% to 45%. Taraflex is recognised for providing durability, safety and comfort without impairing performance. The range also offers greater than 45% force reduction, making it

unrivalled in the marketplace in terms of offering comfort for users. Taraflex meets the EN Standard of 22196 for antibacterial activity (E. coli - S. aureus - MRSA) (3) returning >99% levels of growth inhibition.

The product is also treated with Protecsol, which renders polish redundant and is triple action meaning no polish is ever required, it contributes to easy maintenance and is anti-friction burn and slide/grip.

Tarafl ex has a double density foam backing and with another bonus, it’s environmentally friendly. Taraflex Sport M Performance from Gerfl or also meets the EN 14904 Standard for indoor sports surfaces and is also English Cricket Board (ECB) compliant.

The Taraflex ‘point elastic’ fl ooring has a higher comfort factor than ‘area elastic’ fl oors and reduces the risk and severity of injuries. Taraflex is also available with the Dry-Tex System which is perfect for new construction or refurbishment projects with damp subfl oors.

Gerfl or

Origin range uses nature to deliver natural play experiences

Proludic has a Robinia range of equipment created by our design team and manufactured in our own production facilities. The Origin’ range comprises of a series of trails and multi-play structures.

The play equipment in the Origin range reproduces the very essence of what nature has to offer: a forest walk, crossing a stream over stepping stones or an uprooted tree trunk, a playhouse made of fallen branches, an adventure trail that includes climbing, sliding and observation.

Here, children play in nature, with nature and using nature. Their senses are awakened and stimulated by visual and tactile contact with the Robinia wood.

Modular in design and offering progressive levels of difficulty, Origin creates play areas that are in perfect harmony with their natural surroundings. The irregularity and curvature of the uprights combine to make each piece of play equipment a unique structure.

With its curved and rounded shape, Robinia compliments

rural environments and park settings. It is simple to use, requiring very little work beyond sanding to make it smooth to the touch. Splinter-free and stable after prolonged exposure to the sun, it reduces the risk of injury and ensures optimum safety.

Robinia is a living material on which time will leave its mark. Ultraviolet rays and corrosion will lead to the natural ageing of the wood’s surface. Its colour will change and will attain a slightly different hue over time.

“The beauty of Origin within any setting should never be underestimated, the connection with natural Robinia wood for younger children awakens their senses through the visual and tactile contact,” said Anne Parkin, Key Accounts Manager.

Proludic has a wealth of experience in the excavation, installation and maintenance processes.

Proludic

eibe Play unveils new website

eibe Play has revealed its newly designed Website –www.eibe.co.uk

With a host of new features, clearer navigation and even more useful information, the

eibe website is the place to go for perfect play products. Browse a host of inventive ranges, read about our promises and guarantees and see for yourself some of our innovative playgrounds that we have

designed over the years. From traditional equipment such as swings and slides to bespoke themed ships and castles, eibe Play has a solution for everyone.

eibe Play

Contact your local KUHN Amenity Pro dealer or visit our website for more information on our product range of amenity sprayers, shredders, spreaders, landscape maintenance and tillage equipment.

www.kuhn-amenitypro.co.uk

New £40m fund to get families active

More than 15,000 families, across 22 projects around the country, could benefit from first allocation of funding

The National Lottery fund has been allocated by us to 22 projects around the country whose aim it is to bring families closer together through sport and physical activity.

The 22 projects will focus on helping families who are either on a low income, or have low levels of education or employment.

Parents and family members who are active themselves, and enjoy it, can encourage positive feelings about exercise and its value in their children.

Yet many parents lack the skills or confidence to take part in sport with their children as they fear they cannot keep up.

Just by seeing their parents being active, children can be inspired to do the same, and if they have an enjoyable experience they’re far more likely to continue as an adult.

Each of the funded projects will tailor their work to the needs of those that they are helping, with, for example, Cambridgeshire County Council putting on an

activity roadshow to enable low income families to try suitable sports, while Havant and East Hants Mind will provide an initial eight weeks of semistructured free play to groups with low levels of mental wellbeing.

Jayne Molyneux, Sport England Director of Children and Young People, hopes each specific action plan will see an increase in physical activity among young children.

“It’s not right that four in fi ve children don’t get enough exercise and are missing out on the health benefi ts it brings,” she said.

“Just by seeing their parents being active, children can be inspired to do the same, and if they have an enjoyable experience they’re far more likely to continue as an adult.

“Parents have many demands on their time, and often lack the confi dence to get active with their children.

With this £40 million of National Lottery funding we hopetomakegettingactivewith your children an easy choice for thousands of families across the country.”

Sport England

RoSPA welcomes call for evidence on safer cycling and walking

RoSPA has welcomed the launch of the Government’s latest move to get more people walking and cycling safely.

A new playground is within Reach

Residents of the small fen-edge village of Reach has welcomed the official opening their new playground.

Letting loose their lyrical side landed the village second-place in a nationwide competition run by the playground supplier KOMPAN to ‘describe your dream playground’.

In combination with a fantastic £50,000 grant from funding body WREN, a grant from ECDC and support from the Parish Council the project is now fully funded.

Many a Reach child had swung, clambered and jumped in the existing playground thought to be around 30 years old. However, the most recent safety inspection confirmed that extensive work was needed to keep it safe and functioning. The new KOMPAN facility will provide safe, modern play opportunities, as well as fitness equipment to help keep the village healthy.

Cath Tayleur, head of Reach Playground Committee says: “This is incredibly exciting news for the Village.

“We are going have an amazing facility with a much longed for zip-wire and a range of exciting equipment that will cater for all ages and abilities. We are hugelygratefultoourfundersfor making this possible.”

Steve Sylvester, Managing Director at KOMPAN says: “We are delighted to support local community groups like Reach to help boost their funding to achievetheirdreamplayground.”

KOMPAN

The Department for Transport (DfT) published a call for evidence on ways to make cycling and walking safer while also increasing cycling and walking. RoSPA is pleased that the consultation covers both pedestrians and cyclists because, together, they accounted for 550 road accident deaths in Great Britain in 2016 – 31 per cent of the overall total.

RoSPA strongly supports measures that encourage healthy and sustainable travel.

The key to increasing cycling and walking, and so gaining all the health and environmental benefits that result, is to create a safe on and off-road environment, improve road user attitudes and behaviour towards each other and produce safer vehicles that reduce the risk to those most vulnerable when involved in a collision. Improvements in road design, speed reduction measures and improved training and

education would have a strong safety benefit for both cyclists and pedestrians.

Nick Lloyd, road safety manager at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), said: “We are really pleased that the call for evidence recognises the importance of a ‘safe systems approach’ as a way of protecting vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists. It is an unfortunate reality that as humans we do make mistakes and when this happens it should not result in death or life-changing injury.

“On cycling specifically, we believe that improving safety would not only reduce the number of cyclist casualties, but would also encourage and enable more people to cycle more often.

“It would help people who want to cycle but are deterred from doing so currently because they think it is not safe enough, and would also help to prevent an increase in cycling being followed by an increase in cyclist casualties. This, in turn,

would increase the health and environmental benefi ts of cycling for cyclists themselves and for society as a whole.”

The DfT’s Cycle Safety Review says that there is a case for changing the law to tackle the issue of dangerous and careless cycling that causes serious injury or death, bringing cycling in line with driving offences.

Nick Lloyd said: “RoSPA broadly supports the review, but recognises that very few pedestriansarekilledbycyclists.

“Almost all of the pedestrian collision deaths in 2016 involved a motor vehicle, with three involving a cyclist. It is right to plug the gap between manslaughter and the historic offence of wanton and furious driving but, more importantly, thiscallforevidenceprovidesthe opportunityforpeopletoexpress their views on how we can make cycling and walking safe, healthy activities for individuals and communities alike.”

Sport

RoSPA

Young Boccia champs officially open new school playground

Young Boccia champions have celebrated their win by helping to officially open their school’s new playground.

The Kent County winning youngsters from Greenfields Community Primary School in Maidstone were picked to join the school’s Chair of Governors, Pam Payne, to officially open the new outdoor equipment, designed, manufactured and installed by outdoor play experts Creative Play.

Boccia, which is a precision ball sport related to bowls, is primarily a disability sport and schools, such as Greenfields, also have teams for children who have learning difficulties.

Greenfields has found that being part of a Boccia team has given those pupils a real confidence boost

and created friendships that have made them feel more inclusive.

Headteacher Dan Andrews said this reflects well the aim of the new playground, which includes a basket swing suitable for children with physical disabilities and for all children to play on together.

The playground project has been in development for three months and the finished area has swings, climbing apparatus, see saws, a roundabout, a slide and a multicoloured safety surface.

It was funded using a combination of school funds and cash generated through fundraising events in the community.

Tim Broster, sales manager at Creative Play, said: “It’s a very traditional play area with swings, seesaws and our very popular

Jigsaw Tower which includes a slide. It looks stunning and I’m delighted that Greenfields are pleased with the result.

“From my perspective, we always invite questions and listen rather than try and drive the customer towards something. Greenfields were fabulous to work with. Dan and the team were friendly and open. We were given clear guidelines to work with on what was a lengthy and big project.

“The strength of the project was built on the communication we had with the school and it is wonderful to see it all come to fruition and see the children enjoying it. To have the school champion Boccia team here to

officially open it with the Chair of Governors is the icing on the cake. They are thoroughly deserving of the honour.”

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 inhouse teams, who use state of the art equipment and each specialise in timber, plastic or metal. Creative Play’s own teams install all of the equipment and surfacing to meet the requirements of the client and their own rigorous quality standards.

Creative Play

Sutcliffe Play bids farewell to long-serving Finance Director

Following almost 20 years’ service, Sutcliffe Play’s Financial Director Stuart White has announced his retirement.

Stuart joined Sutcliffe Play in February 1999 as Financial Controller and was appointed Financial Director in 2000 and he has served on the board ever since.

Martin Griffin Managing Director of Sutcliffe Play says:

“Stuart has provided many years of dedicated service to Sutcliffe Play and has played an important role in the development and success of the company as we know it today. On behalf of everyone here at Sutcliffe Play I’d like to thank Stuart. He will be greatly missed by all.”

Stuart is looking forward to relaxing throughout the summer months with Wimbledon on the horizon and a family wedding to look forward to.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time with Sutcliffe Play. It’s been a pleasure to see the company grow over the years into the

innovative and successful company it is today. I look forward to watching it continue to develop.”

The team at Sutcliffe Play wish Stuart all the best in his retirement.

Sutcliffe Play

Safeplay helps Zaun break new turf

Norwegian artificial turf experts have turned to a British steel fencing manufacturer to support their move into installing MUGAs (multi-use games areas).

Safeplay of Torvastad in Rogaland county has become Zaun Limited’s reseller in Norway after it won the order to install a MUGA at a new upper secondary school in Bremnes.

Bremnes is a small town of 4,500 inhabitants on the west coast of Norway due west of the capital Oslo. The town has a strong culture for sports and especially football – one in 4.5 inhabitants is a member of the local sports club – and has fostered several top-level players despite its small size.

The MUGA is 24x12m and incorporates specialist sports fencing with basketball overpanels at either end.

Zaun’s Duo8 Super Rebound forms a robust play area that is

highly durable, low maintenance and ‘graffiti-proof’, with great rebound properties similar to a wall and rubber inserts between panels and posts to keep ‘rattle’ during play to a minimum.

Safeplay Sales Manager Eivind Furlund said: “The MUGA was an obvious addition to the new school – with really quiet fencing that rebounds well yet allows teachers to see what’s going on on-court.

“It’s been a really encouraging first collaboration with Zaun and we see a real market opportunity: according to the Norwegian Football Federation there are 2,632 MUGAs in Norway.”

Safeplay was founded in 2007 and boasts the Playtop agency for the playground market and decades of combined experience in artificial turf. It has already ordered a second MUGA from Zaun for installation in Norway.

Zaun

MUGAs provide safe outdoor play spaces

The importance of outdoor play for children is fundamental for a child’s development.

There are however a range of factors which mean considerably less children play in the area around their homes everyday.

These factors include fast traffic, personal safety and changes in weather. MUGAs from Steelway

Fensecure can offer a solution for some of these modern day problems.

Adults perpetuate a culture of fear, not letting their children outside due to it being a space of unpredictability.

Installing a MUGA in parks or in housing estates can create a safe play space for children from more urban areas. These dedicated areas can put parents minds at ease and create interesting areas of play.

Multi use games areas allow children to participate in sport in a relaxed manner with friends and others in their communities. This catalyst for building relationships is fantastic for developing positive social skills.

Additionally, adding a cover to the MUGA means that outside play is not limited to the good weather - often hard to find in the UK.

Timberplay help make playground funding more accessible

Accessing funding for playground equipment has just been made easier thanks to a new initiative launched by Timberplay.

Timberplay has joined forces with Safe Consultancy, a funding specialist aimed at helping notfor-profit organisations achieve their funding goals.

The new partnership has opened the doors for schools, parish

councils, community groups and charities to get access to full or part funding to help turn their project into a reality.

The free advice service includes an assessment of eligibility the identification of a funding stream, support if needed with theapplicationformandcostings for the project.

Timberplay

Outdoor musical instruments put users in tune with nature

These fi nely crafted outdoor percussion instruments make a striking addition to any play area.

All instruments are carefully tuned to the same key, allowing players to explore sounds and rhythms in pairs or groups. The EN1176 compliant designs are built to last, using materials that are guaranteed to retain their

musical and visual qualities over many years.

The instruments are supplied preassembled steel and timber frame models with full instructions for installing into any surface.

Acoustic Arts

Playdale’s MD wins ‘Global Director of the Year’ award

Playdale Playgrounds’ Managing Director, Barry Leahey MBE has been awarded Director of the Year in the global category at the Institute of Directors (IoD) North West Awards. The event took place at the Midland Hotel in Manchester and was hosted by BBC sports presenter and anchor of BBC Breakfast, Dan Walker.

Barry began working for Cumbrian based playground manufacturer Playdale in 2004 as Sales and Marketing Director and progressed more recently to Managing Director in 2015. Barry’s drive and passion to ensure

that Playdale is the best they can be at export have been relentless in the last seven years, having started and led Playdale’s export mission to ensure they are now a growing global business covering 48 countries.

Speaking about receiving this award, Barry said “The Institute of Directors is a dynamic and highly respected organisation, so to even be shortlisted for this award was an incredible honour and fantastic achievement. To then be announced winner of the Global Director Of The Year Award is something else.

“I am delighted to have received the award and would like give huge thanks to my team at Playdale for their hard work and support in helping us achieve our export goals.”

Mr Leahey also attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2018 (CHOGM). As one of the leading providers of children’s outdoor playground equipment Playdale’s export business already spans almost 50 countries worldwide. Amongst their many awards and accolades, Playdale has also recently been given the

status of Commonwealth First Export Champion.

CHOGM brought together representatives and leaders from the worlds of business, civil society and government to address the shared global challenges Commonwealth countries face. Actions are then formed and agreed on, to create a better future for all members. Barry makes up an impressive Commonwealth Business Forum delegation of 800 senior business leaders and Heads of Government from across our Commonwealth.

Steelway

Playdale

Wicksteed creates Scotland’s first all-inclusive play park

Wicksteed is backed by 100 years of play expertise, including surfacing which can transform a play area through bespoke designs and colourful themed graphics.

The company offers a wide range from traditional Wet Pour to Eco-Fleck, Safety Grass & Bark and Playground Sand and Synthetic Grass.

Wicksteed provides a nationwide installation service using

experienced personnel trained to install surfacing to BS EN 1176 and all playground surfacing products have been independently tested in accordance with the requirements of BS EN 1177:1998 and BS 7188:1998 and come with guarantees of up to 5 years.

Wicksteed Playgrounds helped turn the dreams of Scottish charity (Play As One Scotland or pa1s as it is more commonly known) - to create Scotland’s

INTRODUCING

first all-inclusive play park –into reality.

The design is focused on the use of vibrant and stimulating colours with nature-themed surface graphics, a sensory garden and equipment that uses sound, touch, vision and electronics and is wheelchair friendly.

The £200,000 play area took four months to complete and includes equipment that has been specifically designed for youngsters with or without a

physical or learning disability.

Wicksteed Sales Director, Stuart Wetherell, commented: “This project has been a great one to work on as inclusivity is one of our specialisms. Our state of the art manufacturing processes and use of the latest materials mean we can create bespoke play areas and provide visually engaging surface graphics and play equipment that is relevant and different to each site.”

New brand for the Association of Play Industries

The Association of Play Industries has unveiled its new brand and website. The association’s new identity reflects their role as the lead trade association for the UK play industry: API member companies are the UK’s top providers of playgrounds, play equipment and safety surfacing.

API Chair, Mark Hardy, says: “This is an exciting time for the play sector and the rebrand signifies our commitment to API members and to the customers who choose them. We have worked hard to develop a brand and website which has our members at its heart.

“The API is passionate about play and believes it is essential to healthy child development. As well as supporting our members to maintain the highest standards in play equipment, we campaign to ensure that all children have adequate play opportunities.

“We wanted a website that not only reflects who we are, but also one that is user-friendly and easy to navigate. Visitors to our site not

The Association of Play Industries (API) held its Annual General Meeting on the 26 April 2018 and appointed Fenland Leisure Products Managing Director, Andrew Sparrow, onto the Executive Committee as their new Vice Chair. API Chair Mark Hardy says: “Andrew has been an integral part of the API Executive team for four years and we are delighted that he is now our Vice Chair.

He brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge of the play industry and we are looking forward to further benefitting from his expertise.”

only include our members and their customers, but also the press and members of the public. We hope that the new brand and website will appeal to our diverse audience.

“The primary aims of the API remain the same. We work to promote good play space design and an understanding of play and risk. We ensure our members comply with standards and good practice and we provide a united voice for the play industry. Customers can trust our members to deliver the highest standards of service and customer care.

“We are also working hard to promote the benefits of outdoor play in a time when children are playing out less and have increasingly sedentary lifestyles.

The API’s Nowhere2Play campaign revealed an alarming decline in playgrounds in England and has received unprecedented national coverage. The new brand will further strengthen our media presence as we continue to champion the benefits of play.”

API

Andrew Sparrow says: “I’ve worked within the play industry for the past 25 years since forming Fenland Leisure. We have been members of the API for the past nine years and have reaped some real benefits of being involved with the voice of the UK play industry. I’m very keen to help to promote API at the grass roots of our industry, both in education and local authorities as well as being involved with lobbying at higher levels to improve UK play provision.”

In addition the API welcomes Vicki Braithwaite, Pennine Playgrounds for a further term of office as Executive Officer.

Wicksteed