Read our latest Case Studies
The project which kickstarted Landmark Playgrounds! This is truly one of the most exciting projects we’ve ever been involved in, having been tasked with recreating Ely Cathedral as a climbing frame at a newly-opened retail park on the edge of the city.
The brief was to ensure the climber was visible from the main road, so that it would act as a major attraction for local families to come and visit. We also wanted to try and faithfully echo the architectural features of the original building, including the central Octagon as well as the West Tower. We also had great fun transforming the Choir and Nave into climbable activities, with a giant scramble net at one end and a climbing wall (where you put your feet into the ‘stained glass windows’!) at the other. The rope climb up the centre of the Octagon was one of our favourite features.
The park was complete with a huge range of other play provisions, to ensure there was something for children of all ages and abilities to enjoy. This includes three swings (a basket swing, 2 flat seats, and 2 toddlers seats), and a huge adventure trail arcing around the rear of the space.
Doesn’t the shade of the climber look great in this shot?!
We also built a smaller climber next to the Cathedral, to provide an easier space for little ones to access.
The area was finished with play-grade bark chippings throughout, to add to the natural theme of the space.
We’re so proud of this work, and think it really showcases our expertise and attention to detail when creating unique designs for our clients. If you have something similar in mind get in touch!
Every project we deliver has a place in our hearts, as we love what we do and we love bringing joy and growth to children nationwide. However this project was a particularly special one, as many of our employees played at Knebworth Fort in North Hertfordshire growing up – so we were over the moon to be asked to add to their fantastic play area ready for the 2023 summer season.
The main fort is visible in the background, and provides a huge and exciting play area for older children. However there was very little provision for 2-4 year olds, and so Knebworth Estate’s brief was to mirror the theme of the wider play area, whilst scaling it down for infants and toddlers.
The finished result was this gorgeous climbing frame, with low-level platforms and battlements to peak through, along with a Castle Keep Playhouse and a variety of climbing activities. The design is the finished with a stainless steel slide to ‘zip’ back down.
Underfoot we covered a concrete slab that was already in situ with a shockpad and artificial grass, to complete the muted and natural look of the play space.
The key element of this project was to integrate a large mound this primary school had in their grounds, created with the spoil from a construction project they had undertaken some years earlier. With the ground settled and solid, they had the prime space to add something interesting and exciting to their grounds.
We firstly needed to make the area safe and easily supervisable for their teachers, and so we installed timber picket fencing around the top of the mound, with an opening for their new climbing frame.
The headteacher loved the idea of a historic themed climber that would sit proudly atop the hill, and so we created a custom design that fit in the space and also integrated the bank to add play value. The mound also meant the climber would be visible from the surrounding residential area, thereby denoting the investment the head was making to make the school an exciting place for local children to go to learn.
A climbing wall and clambering ramp lead up the gradient to the first tower, whilst the second tower features a ‘drawbridge’ leading to a slide to ‘zip’ back down and keep exploring.
The two towers featured interior platforms at 1.2m in height, providing an even more exciting vantage point over the whole school, with loopholes to peer through and spot friends and foes approaching. A spiders’ web adds an exciting role-play spark that links the two towers with a challenging test for fine- and gross-motor skills.
The flag of the school flies proudly overhead, further personalising this climbing frame to the school and the local area.
Underfoot the school opted for this fantastic moat design int he safety surfacing, to deepen the historic theme even further and add some vibrancy to their playground.
Swanbourne House School in Buckinghamshire wanted a head-turning and unique design that would capture their visitors’ and prospective pupils’ attentions and imaginations as they entered their grounds, and our expansive castle design fit their brief perfectly.
We wanted to make sure Swanbourne’s castle was extra special, and so we developed a jaunty ‘wizards hat’ style roof over the castle keep, to increase the total height of the climber and spark children’s imaginations as they create their own stories and adventures.
The castle features one large platform providing ample room for lots of children to play together, connected via a ‘drawbridge’ to the smaller gatehouse. The climber features a wide variety of other climbing activities, presenting different levels of challenge so that children of all ages and abilities can find their own space to play.
The space was finished with artificial grass safety surfacing, complete with a shockpad to help cushion accidental slips and falls. We also included some playhouses to either side of the main climber, to add even more room to play.
Pirton Parish Council commissioned a unique single-tower castle to reflect the local history of the village, which was home to a Motte and Bailey castle from the mid-1200’s, if not earlier! That castle is no longer standing, but our design now features as the centrepiece to their village play area, with local history flags engraved around it, and the village’s motif flying on a flag overhead.
Here you can see the grand opening of our play park in East Leake! A large three-tower castle provides a fantastic centrepiece to their huge new play toddlers’ play area.
This playground is complete with a variety of sensory and inclusive play experiences, to boost the provision for SEN children in the community.
These inclusive features included talk tubes, giving children the opportunity to develop their communication and expression skills out of sight of their friends and family for an exciting added twist.
We also installed sensory play panels such as kaleidoscopes, to enable children to experiment with different visual sensations. A large bench provides room for parents and carers to sit and supervise.
A trim trail arcs around the space, providing a challenge for balance and co-ordination, both solo or hand-in-hand with friends and family.
A lovely long shot of the park’s grand opening.
The council opted for playgrade woodchip bark, to provide a natural safety surface around the space. This is retained in a log retaining wall.
We think it provides a gorgeous finished appearance to a lovely play park!
