For body, mind and senses, a playground of adventure - Playfair 2008
It’s a first in the UK. An amazing
adventure playground for the body, mind and senses will showcase;
An older children’s area, woodland play, themed play,
toddlers’ play, soundtrack, wild garden, scented circle,
storyteller’s garden and a half-pipe skateboard area. This
adventure playground’s design aims to encourage
children’s physical activity, give mental stimulation and
education causing children to explore the natural cycle of nature
among planted areas. Designer, Mel Nichols said,
“We designed the adventure play area to present
adventure play for the mind, the body and the senses. It will also
reflect the importance of nature and culture to the developing
child.”
That’s what visitors to, ‘Play Fair 2008’ will
see on 15-16 July at Stoneleigh Park,
Warwickshire. Play Fair 2008 is a new play and sports equipment
exhibition which is free. It is designed to interest buyers,
specifiers, sport, leisure and play workers from the public sector,
local government, schools and education, landscape design and the
commercial sector. This highly focused, two-day event has free
seminars, organised by the API and Play England. It will be packed
with displays, demonstrations, trade stands - and a large adventure
playground feature.
For the first time as well, trade bodies are joining forces to
create Play Fair. They are the Federation of Sports and Play
Associations and two of its trade associations; the Association of
Play Industries (API) and the Sports and Fitness Equipment
Association (SAFEA). Each exhibitor will be a member of at least
one organisation. For visitors, that ensures all exhibitors meet
stringent membership criteria which mirror many local government
pre-qualification requirements.
Visitors will be able to see everything in one place on one day.
The concentration of sports, play and leisure equipment in this
dedicated event offers decision makers an effective way to keep up
to date and assess their requirements. An excellent range of free
seminars will further educate on the latest in best practice in
equipping sport, play and leisure areas. More info on free seminars
and visitor registration at: www.playfairuk.com
An adventure Playground - for body, mind and senses,
This showcased adventure playground will help schools, local
authorities and play providers develop ‘outdoors’,
outdoor classrooms and adventure play for 8-12 year olds. To do
that it offers physical challenge and interest for
‘tweenagers’ from some of the best equipment available
on the market today but also goes further and offers sensory and
educational stimulation.
Children’s play experiences include:
Sensory stimulation and activity from a sound track with musical
instruments and a scented circle and planted areas.
Role play to inspire children’s imaginations in the themed
area
Sand play to encourage creativity, experimentation,
co-operation
Quiet in a storytellers garden where children sit and let their
imaginations travel far and wide
Nature in a sensory garden with wild flowers and beehives
Sport represented by a skateboarders’ half-pipe
Visitors will see each as a module carefully designed and
‘woven’ into a complete adventure playground to give
ideas and inspiration to buyers and everyone passionate about
children’s play.
Older children's zone offers physical play,
risk and the opportunity to show off new skills as children grow
and develop.
Woodland Play is an area close to an embankment
next to mature trees offering an area for free play in the
shade
Themed Play for role-play is where the sand
ship ‘Nina’ lands. It is surrounded by sand, tree palms
and linked to the jungle drums area as it sails into desert island
bay. “Ahoy there! Shipmates.” The Nina lands on the
beach – a large sandpit with sand and water tables close by
in a small cove - where children can experiment and build castles.
Ships are unbelievably compelling for children, when united with
sand play, their enthusiasm knows no bounds. There’s more,
themed play which continues with a horse and cart - a belt
trampoline.
Toddlers’ Play has a castle and slide to
continue the themed play area around the Nina and the jungle drums.
A mini challenger says, “Test your skills. See if you
can,” to the youngest children.
Soundtrack - A path through the trees at the
top of an embankment forms a discovery soundtrack with different
kinds of sound play along the route. Try the kalimba, marimba,
metallophone, rain wheel and amadinda and step along the track to
the jungle drums zone and palm pipes.
The Wild Garden is a created habitat with a
wild flower mix sown in grass with beehives.
In the Scented Circle a raised planter with
plants and herbs chosen for scent, texture shape and colour has a
stone compass sculpture to help explore a sensory world.
Storytellers Garden has log stools and
storytellers chair all arranged so children to sit on the
embankment while they listen and imagine … everything!
A half-pipe makes a skateboard area with
exhibition riders and spectators who can watch the highly skilled
and energy burning fitness stunts.
Exhibition visitors and local school children will be encouraged
to have-a-go and enjoy the fun.
For more information contact Ray Baxter 0207 973 4695 r.Baxter@hgluk.com
For those who cannot get there, a free copy of the new API
Directory 2008/9 is available at: www.api-play.org