Ravenbank Community Primary School, Lymm, Cheshire

The headteacher received many proposals for playground equipment.  Designs from other companies simply did not meet the expectations of the school.  One company suggested putting the roadway in an L-shape layout on a slope next to the existing climbing frame, but the area was too narrow and the idea was simply not practical.

Considering the financial constraints, the school explicitly set a budget of £25,000. Our team was tasked with designing zones using various surfaces for different activities. Specializing in playground equipment, our designers began creating a custom-made playground proposal. The school’s initial plan was to resurface all the existing tarmac. However, they recognized the need for a slight compromise to afford the range of playground equipment they needed.

They explored different surfacing choices and decided on resin-bound gravel for the water feature. Brown rubber mulch was used for the mud kitchen and artificial grass was to serve as an island in the centre of the roadway. Additionally, we included artificial grass sections for the construction and mark-making zones. The area had an existing climbing structure on wetpour surfacing which the school intended to retain, although they believed its placement by the prior company was less than ideal.

The concept of using brown rubber mulch for the mud kitchen area was well-received because it stays in place due to its bonded nature. Unlike the bark they used previously, which required frequent sweeping, maintenance and replenishment.

The team was eager to incorporate a bike roadway and loved the representative’s idea of adding a ramp and rumble strips. They were also fond of our block paving roadways, so to align with the budget, we included sections of block paving and enhanced the existing tarmac with colourful, educational road safety markings. Additionally, we integrated parking bays, locating the ideal spot beside the building to store the bikes when not in use.

Initially, the plan was to group all the messy play areas together, but after considering the logistics of water play, it was concluded that situating the water zone near the existing outdoor tap would be more practical.

When designing playgrounds, we always think about the functionality as this is key to the area being successful. It’s the small details like this and thinking carefully about how the area will be used that makes the difference between giving the school a much improved functional area and one that fails to deliver what they need.

Their existing mud kitchen had seen better days so they wanted to replace it. The staff were particularly fond of a model from our latest collection that featured cupboards. They paired this with a mud trough for convenient storage. To enhance the area, we included some easel picnic tables for creative mark making and a few chalkboards, completing the setup.

Overall, the project was an absolute success. Courtney,  the Early Years Teacher said “We love our new outdoor playground. The children are engaging with purposeful play again. After the initial installation, there were a few snag issues but once we had contacted Bill, they were rectified speedily until we were satisfied. ESP will definitely be a company that we would keep in touch with for any further projects.” And we were so pleased to hear it, we hope to work with Courtney and the school again in the future.

If you are looking for playground equipment, do not hesitate to get in touch with our friendly customer care team.