Holybourne is a small village on the outskirts of Alton and situated at the northern end of the village, is a large play area. Located in a beautiful pastoral setting surrounded by fields, the play area has been a popular spot for many years. As some of the equipment was coming to the end of its life we took part in a tender process to provide the play area with a new lease of life. The tender requested replacement of some old favourites with the provision of some new items which catered for smaller children. Having visited the site many times with our own family, we knew the existing equipment well so started working on a proposal for new equipment we thought would work really well in the setting.
Our proposal included a timber clad shelter which by request was open at the front and back to allow a clear line of sight for local neighbourhood watch but provided some much needed shelter from the weather. We replaced the old trim trail with new items offering different elements of play including climbing, balance, stretching and hopping. The old toddler swing unit was replaced with a new double bay swing combining toddler seats and a “Jungle Swing” – an accessible piece for multiple users to enjoy. To add play value for the small children we proposed “The Clandon”, which features easy access steps, a pull up ramp, an incline bridge, a astellated bridge, a fire pole, a rattle bridge and a stainless steel slide.
To keep in with the natural setting we chose rubber grass mat surfacing. Natural grass will grow up through the mats and provide an impact absorbing surface, which allows you to mow the grass as normal. All of the equipment has been installed onto steel feet giving protection from ground rot, strimmer damage and making any future maintenance easy and cost effective.
The play area is more popular than ever, now that it has equipment for all ages and shelter from the elements. There is also a large amount of open space, still within the enclosed area, providing a great space for ball games and allowing small children some independence. It’s the perfect location for picnics and enjoying summer afternoons.
