East Yorkshire’s newest family attraction, William’s Den, is enjoying a very busy first season, and it’s not hard to see why with such exceptional play facilities.
Timberplay were delighted to be part of this unique attraction, designing and delivering the outdoor play area.
William’s Den sought to create an attraction that provided the very best naturally inspired play opportunities, from the UK’s largest timber indoor play areas with a difference, to sand and water sites, playful landscaping, challenging outdoor equipment, and den building. It seems the leisure market was waiting for a site such as Williams Den as it has been fully booked for most of the summer holidays.
Timberplay worked with William’s Den to create outdoor play which embraced landscaping to create a space which appeals to children across a wide age range. The inclusion of sand and water pumps and channels boosts the playvalue within the site significantly. Older children have the challenge of the Climbing Structure and the thrill of the cableway. Toddlers can embrace the role play within the Platform House or fly as high as they dare in the Cradle Swing.
Christian Carver, Co-Owner at William’s Den comments: “Myself and Tor both grew up on farms and we remember rather nostalgically having vast amounts of freedom to play outside in all weathers, for hours on end. Our childhood years were spent endlessly exploring on foot and by bike, building dens and using our wild imaginations to entertain each other for hours and days.
"When we were sharing ideas for the type of family visitor attraction we wanted to create, our own childhood experiences were never far from the surface. It became abundantly clear that we had to create an environment for children to play inside and out whatever the weather, where they could run wild and experience the freedom to roam, and while the kids were doing that, we wanted the grown ups to enjoy being outdoors with their children and appreciate everything else on offer.”
What makes William’s Den really stand out is the way they have embraced the landscape, with mounds, embankments, a natural amphitheatre, climbing boulder stack, log bridges and tunnels all combining to deliver an imaginative play environment. This is exploited further with the addition of den building materials – to inspire children to create their own woodland hideaway.
