Funding 2015

Having concluded that a new playground is needed for your school or park, it then brings with it the sometimes daunting task of gathering funds together to be able to pay for your new area. Relax- there are many ways to be able to do this.

The first things to do is get a budget in place and this can come by looking at what you currently have available, and then contacting any bodies or charities that may be able to assist. It may surprise you the number organisations that are out there who can help. We have updated our Fundraising Pack which provides you with a list of these organisations based around the UK, with the relevant contact details, which we can email to you on request.

You may decide to try and fund the project yourselves or top-up any funding that you do receive by organising events that will bring in extra money. Think seasonal- are there any holidays coming up such as Halloween or is it summer? Tailor such events around it, for example a BBQ in summer or a fancy dress Halloween party in Autumn. Make it as fun as possible not only for the people attending but for yourself too as it makes the organising less stressful.

What are you hoping to achieve by your new play area? Look at what aspects you require such as climbing or fitness so you can narrow down your product search. Speak to the actual users- the children- as to what they want as you want to make your playground as popular as possible. Once a list has been made speak to a company such as Playsound to get you a plan designed. Playsound offer a free design service and don't stick to a rigid product list as we can provide a bespoke design service. If we haven't already made a certain product before we can do for you as we understand people have different requirements and needs that shouldn't be limited as to what's in a brochure.

Set deadlines as to when you want a project completion date as this helps focus you and can drive the plan forward. It can concentrate your efforts so the project doesn't just run and run with no end in sight. Work with everyone involved, from contractors to the funding bodies, so that although the targeting completion date is achievable it is short enough to motivate you.

Remember, you are not alone! Share responsibility and speak to as many people as possible to get ideas and help you out. Playsound are always available to assist in any way possible, and with many years of experience we have a great bank of knowledge to help you. We pride ourselves on our friendly and high quality customer service, and we are here for you every step of the way. Contact our sales team on 01695 717229 or email us for help and advice. Good luck!

Ship Shape

One of the biggest successes Playsound achieved in 2014 was the launch of our new Play Ship range. This armarda, ranging from a small, compact unit to a full size galleon ship, has since gained many admirers and can been seen popping up in playgrounds throughout the UK.

The story of this range begins at the start on 2014 when a local pub was under going some regeneration to become a landmark for the Skelmersdale community. Playsound were provided with the brief of creating a new play space that would attract families to the pub, and working together with the customer a set of designs of a huge 10m long pirate ship were produced.

Once everything had been finalised, it took just over 2 weeks to install the boat and immediately made a huge difference to its surroundings. The main road nearby provides excellent views for passing motorists who are sure to spot and admire the ship which was christened the HMS Toby. Its success is down to its use of colour as well as natural materials and its large range of activities means that children can spend their afternoons challenging themselves and testing their bravery. A huge 2.5m high rear platform has a 360° tube slide as well as a scramble net, with other activities including a crawl through tunnel and play panels.

Since that original ship Playsound have had numerous orders and enquiries and soon a range of 4 boats was developed to suit a range of sizes and budgets. As with any Playsound product, each ship is fully customisable to match each customers needs.

For more information please call 01695 717229 or to see the complete range please click here.

Things to do in January

It may be cold and wet, but there is still plenty to be done in your playground and growing areas. The key word for this month is preparation: prepare for the coming months by getting a head start. This helps you get ahead and reduces stress levels of having to get jobs done in a short amount of time!

Things to do this month:

• Order any seeds for plants you may want to grow
• Shred your old Christmas tree in to mulch that can be reused later in the year
• You could try growing potatos in containers that are covered
• Avoid standing or walking on grass to reduce wear and tear
• Clean any tools you may have used and oil shears or any moving parts
• Animals are searching for food during the cold climate, so ensure that bird feeders are kept topped up and water bowls are free of any ice. Playsound offer a number of products that include birdfeeders, such as this dedicated Bird Table

Events are taking place across the country including the RSPB's Big Schools Birdwatch. This can be a fun activity for pupils and can help teach children about common British birds.

So although the weather outside maybe dreadful there is lots of fun to be had!

New Year, New Playground

Christmas has been and gone and we are now into a brand new year. Hopefully you had a great holiday and are full to the brim with turkey and mince pies. With a new year brings opportunities to start a new project and to think about jobs that need doing in the coming months. Now is a perfect time to consider what needs doing in your playgrounds- do pieces of equipment need replacing? Does your whole area need revamping?

It may well be that these projects aren't an immediate concern and only need addressing in the summer, but in actual fact you need to at least start thinking about it now. Funding as well as any planning applications and the design process can take quite some time, so get ahead of the game and start preparing now. Take your time to carefully consider what you want so that the final result meets your every requirement. The summer months are also our busiest times, so contact us now to make sure we can guarantee your playground can be installed.

At Playsound we can help you with every step of the way, whether its to help you gain some inspiration or need any technical support. We are a family run business with everything manufactured by hand by our talented joiners and installed by our high trained installation teams. Our website only has a small selection of our products and services as we offer a bespoke design service, so call us on 01695 717229 for more information.

Seasons Greeting- A 2014 review

2014 is nearly over and it's been another busy year here at Playsound. We've completed some of our most ambitious projects yet and pushed ourselves to produce our most inventive playgrounds to date. Now is a great time to take stock of what the year has brought us and to look to 2015.

Our biggest success story was the launch of the HMS Toby, an almost-to-scale pirate ship over 10m long. Setting sail at the Toby Tavern in Skelmersdale it has become a landmark for locals and a source of joy for any shipmate. A combination of natural timbers with bright and colourful panels catches the eye, and the huge amount of onboard activities bring hours of fun. A 2.5m high tube slide brings thrills whilst a challenging vertical scramble net requires a high level of physicallity. Since the HMS Toby was installed a sister ship was installed at a public park in Burscough and numerous enquiries have been made regarding other versions.

A new climbing unit was designed and installed at Bishop David Sheppard School in Southport. Using elements of our Otter Unit, this multi-level tower was handmade using almost entirely timber with HDPE panels added to offer colour. The play area was also completed with its very own sand transportation system which is essentially a mini-cableway. Carrying our theme of climbing units named after rivers, the Bela Play Unit is fully customisable to suit any surrounding.

As always, canopies have been a big seller in 2014, both timber and steel. The beauty of them is that they provide large areas of covered land for a relatively small price. Our largest this year was at St Lewis Primary in Croft. The 15m long by 9m wide steel canopy was in essence two canopies varying in size joined together, and used both wall fixed and ground fixed post. The finished article was a hugely impressive feature for the school to use in bad weather. The steel had a powder coated finish matching the school colours with polycarbonate roof sheets.

Elsewere, we have been working on improving our website to create a simpler, more user friendly experience for our visitors. Colour coded products groups the various equipment types, and suggestions are made of other items users may also like. This can be seen here.

Moving forward into 2015 we are aiming to bring even better playgrounds and equipment to our customers. We always offer a bespoke design services so even if you want something that you can't see in our brochure then we can always make it for you. 

We are always looking to improve our service whilst keeping low costs and a high standard of quality. If you have any suggestions on what you would like to see please contact us by emailing sales@playsoundplaygrounds.co.uk

We all hope at Playsound that you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Playground Closures

Local playgrounds are places where children spend those long, hot, summer days, when days were filled with playing football and riding on roundabouts. It was the usually the first experience of freedom from parents, or a place were parents can take younger children without any expense whilst being outdoors. So the increased trend for councils to close these playgrounds will ensure future generations miss out on essential experiences.

It is fully understandable that councils need to cut budgets, and something that is regularly debated in parliament. Cuts are taking place in all areas, so play areas are always more than likely to feel the pinch, but surely there are alternatives.

Play areas encourage exercise, and at a time were obesity levels are at the highest levels and one of the worst places in Europe, providing spaces for children to run around and exercise should be encouraged. Long-term this will lower the costs put on the NHS due to obestity-related illnesses.

Playgrounds, as mentioned, provide places for parents to take children for free. Current times means that house-hold budgets are low, so any penny-saving opportunities should be encouraged.

It may not be easy, but it is essential to save our playgrounds.

The Playground Years

It's hard to believe that 20 to 30 years ago, primary school playgrounds where just vast empty spaces of tarmac, surrounded by a little bit of grass. The most excitement to be had was a game of football stretching across the playground, with innocent by-standers regularly getting a wack on the head by a mis-judged football. There is the well used phrase of "jumpers for goalposts", but genuinely that is all there was.

If a school was lucky, they may have some line markings, or maybe even a set of kwik-cricket were players would launch a tennis ball as far as possible, often ending up in local residents gardens. For those who weren't in to sports, there was little else to do apart from standing on the side lines.

For those not taking part in the football, often games of British Bulldog would breakout, with large numbers of children sprinting across the tarmac as fast as possible, trying theire best not to get caught. There were of course fads that appeared on the playgrounds, with yo-yos one of the biggest crazes, coming into fashion then going out, before coming back in. Another popular game were Pogs, with players throwing down Slammers as hard and as accurate as possible to "flip" the pogs for the player to claim.

Pogs

Yet as for physical "playground" equipment there was very little. Trim trails were unheard of, and MUGAs were a thing of the future. In more recent times there has been massive investment from schools to provide not only recreational equipment, but also equipment that serves a purpose and offers educational value. Simple chalkboards offer chances to show creativity, and 4 way shoots can be used to enchance co-ordination skills. There has also been an increase in nature areas, including products such as planters, bird feeders and digging areas to teach children about nature and how plants and animals grow.

The playground is now not just an area for children to run about in, they are almost a fully blown outdoor classroom; the complete educational tool.