Ferring is a coastal village, civil parish and electoral ward in the Arun District of West Sussex, in early 2023 eibe Play received a tender released by Arun District Council for the refurbishment of Ferring Village Green Play Area.
This play area is situated in the middle of the village and is close to a local primary school and housing estate. As a result, the play area is a popular and well-loved amenity for the local residents
The brief was to add to existing play items and generally improve the play offerings within the play space.
Some of the existing items were starting to show their age and providing the council with numerous maintenance issues. The existing play items were installed onto various safer surfaces, such as grass matting and wet pour.
The council and eibe decided to remove the existing trail and play mound, as these two items showed the most wear. The councils aim to improve their provision for children aged between 2- 12 years, however, also improve their inclusive play provision. When designing the new play space, it was important to use equipment that offered the right amount and a variety of play value.
The first play item chosen was the Wacky Walk Play Trail. This fantastic item provides a balancing challenge for children between 2 and 10 years old. The trail includes balancing beams at different heights and angles, with one beam on springs, to really test the users' balancing skills.
Including a Nest Swing was a popular choice that came up during the consultation. Great for social play and allowing children of all ages and abilities, this is a must for any play space.
The next item was the fantastic Stand-Up Seesaw. Suitable for all age groups and abilities, the Stand-Up Seesaw is also accessible for all ages and allows parents and carers to stand behind the child as they use this fantastic item. This is a must-have for any inclusive playspace and will provide endless hours of fun for the children using it.
Also included within the design was the Play Unit Ashley. This bespoke item will be the first installed within Hampshire and will allow toddlers to early juniors the opportunity to play together. This fantastic bespoke play item, designed specifically with individual play spaces in mind, allows children of all ages and abilities to play as one.
The fully accessible ramp allows wheelchairs and prams to gain access to the main platform, where they find numerous fun and challenging play panels, which are not only fun but also educational.
Lastly to allow the children to relax with their friends, have their lunch, or promote role play, a Log Cabin was incliuded. Made from durable pine, this is the perfect item for children to relax and have fun with their friends.
The council and eibe Play agreed to use a grass matting safer surface around all of the new play equipment.
The installation started on site, with the installation process going well and the public eagerly awaiting the reopening of the play area. The play area was opened to the public in time for one of the last summer weekends and has been well-loved and used ever since.
eibe Play is looking forward to supporting Arun District Council and the local community to ensure this play area is a success for its life in the ground.
