19 June 2007
Play England is sponsoring an exemplar 'Playscape', which will be exhibited at this year’s Hampton Court Palace Show from 3-8 July 2007.
The garden, produced by the environmental regeneration charity Groundwork, looks to provide inspiration for a new way of designing play spaces. It draws on the simple pleasures found in a puddle or the hours of entertainment a fallen tree trunk can provide.
The garden combines elements of the natural environment and traditional playground design, using natural colours as well as unconventional and suggested boundaries – banks and timber walls – making the space feel part of the wider environment and encouraging access for all.
Playscape creates a stimulating and multi-sensory place for all young people - a space where they can come together and be challenged and inspired.
Principal Landscape Architect, Adam White from Groundwork said: 'Playscape will illustrate how grassy slopes, woodlands, rock pools, sand and water can be complemented by modern commercial play equipment to form exciting and challenging places to play. We aim to promote an approach to play area design that offers children the opportunities to engage with their natural surroundings, explore their imaginary worlds, and take acceptable levels of risk.'
Groundwork is currently seeking funding to relocate the entire exhibit to a rundown community play space in Ealing after the show.
Visit the Playscape website for more information, including photos and a 3D simulation of the space.
Play England is part of NCB and is supported by the Big Lottery Fund.
'Play is of fundamental importance for children and young people's health and well-being.'
Planning for Play, 2006