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!

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