Challenge

In early 2022, eibe play was invited to tender for the refurbishment of the play area at Stratton Bates in New Alresford. This play area is very popular with the local community and is situated on a playing field that is regularly used for a wide range of activities by the families in the surrounding residents and beyond.

The existing play area was very run down, unused and unloved, and was very uninspiring. The play equipment, installed in the 1990s, was mainly metal and offered little play value. It had been installed onto black wet pour, which required repairing or resurfacing.

Chesham Town Council wanted to create a natural play space in keeping with the surroundings, offering a wide range of play offerings for children of all ages and abilities. It also wanted to create play opportunities for wheelchair users, with easy access to most of the play equipment.

Project detail

eibe play met the Council on site to discuss its plans and exciting ideas for the play space and took away vital information to start the design-making process.

As the client's brief was to keep the play area as natural as possible, eibe chose the majority of play equipment from its Paradiso range, and ensured the play equipment decided upon offered a large amount of play value for children of all ages.

The Council's brief included play equipment for children aged 2-12 years and promoted risk and challenge wherever possible. eibe play always tries to provide equipment that can promote risk and challenge, and that helps improve key development and physical skills such as teamwork or upper and lower body co-ordination.

eibe chose a wide range of equipment, such as swings for toddlers and juniors, plus a nest swing that up to 6 children can use at once.

Other equipment includes interactive play panels, nature-themed spring rockers, and playhouses.

For the main climbing elements, eibe selected the Gerda play unit, and bespoke Wira unit with stainless steel tubular slide. Both offer a large amount of play value, such as climbing and balancing, and include fun slides. For younger children, the Gerda play unit offers an introduction to climbing and balancing, and as they get older, they can challenge themselves with the Wira.

Further play opportunities are found on the large play mound. This includes a unique climbing wall inserted into the mound, a broad slide and a tubular slide. The play mound also offers a great viewing point over the rest of the play area.

Children can access the play equipment all your round via an all-weather path leading through the play space. 

Installation

Installation started at the beginning of the hottest year on record since 1977, and was finished during a period of 30°C+ heat. Whilst this provided eibe's installers with a challenge, they managed to finish the play space at the start of the school holidays to ensure it could be used and loved for the entirety of this period.

After-care

As part of its after-care service, eibe will continue to monitor the play area's progress into the Autumn and beyond, alongside the Council.