Month: June 2018

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Ensure your Play Area Sizzles this Summer

Children In Play Ship

We are now in full swing into the summer and the weather has been beautiful so far…

That means no more hibernating inside away from the cold, but summer clothes on and enjoying the great outdoors!

This signifies commercial settings need to be ready for families, couples and individuals to be swooping in for a great day out or even better a HOLIDAY!

One of the main priorities when trying to do this is the outdoor play/sports area.

We have some tips for you to ensure your outdoor area is the hottest around!!!!

Create a Theme

News Summersizzle1 | Ensure Your Play Area Sizzles This Summer | Creative PlayWe have a wide range of themed equipment to make a real statement to your area. From Pirate Ships to Tractors or Trains to Cars, we are sure we will have something for you that children of all ages will love!  Why not try and add something that fits in with your heritage? Are you located by the seaside and want a nautical theme? Try one of our ships! Or a Farm park? Why not add our fantastic Tractor?

Click here to browse our Role Play Voyager range

Combine Swings

News Summersizzle2 | Ensure Your Play Area Sizzles This Summer | Creative PlaySwings are a playground classic and children love them! Why not combine a selection of different swings and create an awesome play space. Choose from a cradle, flat or basket seats to ensure you provide something for all ages and abilities. We are sure to have something that suits your outdoor area.

Click here to browse our range of swings

Add a Climbing Structure

News Summersizzle3 | Ensure Your Play Area Sizzles This Summer | Creative PlayOur climbing structures are a fantastic way of grabbing children’s attention from afar. We have a huge range of climbing structures including our Jigsaw Play Towers which is component based so you can build the tower to your needs. This means even if you have a smaller area we are sure we will have something for you.

Click here to browse our climbing towers

Incorporate Some Classics

News Summersizzle4 | Ensure Your Play Area Sizzles This Summer | Creative PlayWe have already touched on one of the most popular classic products with our swings, but let’s not forget Spinners, seesaws and Spring Riders as they are just as popular! These 3 products are great at filling in the smaller gaps within a play area providing a great selection of play value for multiple children at one time!

All products are constructed in-house at our Chester HQ so you can be rest assured that your playground will stand the test of time!

Click here to browse our playground classics

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Happy 1st Birthday Toddle Town!

News 1Toddletown Featuredb | Happy 1St Birthday Toddle Town! | Creative Play

One of our main objectives has always been to provide playground equipment that is suitable for each and every customer. Last year we introduced ‘TODDLE TOWN’, our Early Years range that is specifically designed with children under the age of 5 firmly in mind.

From tricky EYFS trim trail items to Messy Play Tables ideal for sensory play, our Toddle Town range targets the development fundamental movements skills and allow children to explore and discover the world around them.

It has been one whole year since we launched this awesome range, and you have been loving it! Below, we recap on what our Toddle Town range is all about and how you can incorporate these EYFS play pieces into your outdoor play space.

News 1Toddletown1 | Happy 1St Birthday Toddle Town! | Creative PlayDEVELOP PHYSICAL LITERACY

Designed to encourage the development of fundamental movement skills through play, our Toddle Town trim trail items are all about providing challenging, yet age-appropriate, physical play opportunities. They’re great for improving fundamental movement skills too!

Click here to view our EYFS Toddle Town Trim Trail items

DISCOVER THROUGH MESSY PLAY

Our Toddle Town Messy Play Tables are great for cooking up a storm! Not just suitable for mud, why not experiment with water, sand and foam and see what you can create.

Click here to view our Messy Play Toddle Town items

GET CREATIVE

Our Toddle Town Playboards are all about providing a create outlet for little ones. Available in options such as our Chalk Board, White Board and Weaving Board, the possibilities are truly endless.

Click here to view our Toddle Town Playboards

ENCOURAGE DEN MAKING

Our range of Timber Playhouses, including our Construction Site version, are all about encouraging den making and imaginative play. Constructed from high quality timbers, these playhouses will definitely stand the test of time.

Click here to view our Toddle Town Playhouses

Want Creative Play to help with the development of your outdoor play space? Get in touch today with our Chester HQ – click here

 

Want some more playground inspiration? Click here to access our brochure downloads page

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Flying High! Cylch Meithrin’s Transformation

News Cwlch Featured2 | Flying High! Cylch Meithrin'S Transformation | Creative Play

News Cwlch2 | Flying High! Cylch Meithrin'S Transformation | Creative PlayWe love providing children of all ages the opportunity to play, whether this be in a school, nursery, public park or even on days out and on holiday and every so often we work on projects that have a unique story behind them. Cylch Meithrin in Deiniolen is one of those play areas!

Courageous Daredevil Grandmother Carys Thomas, 77, raised £1,500 by completing the daunting Zip World challenge in Snowdonia to help Cylch Meithrin, fund its brand new playground, which we both designed and manufactured.

The nursery had a bare concrete yard for several years but after securing community grants and public donations, including Carys’ sponsorship money, they have finally been able to transform the unused space into a much-needed safe and educational play facility.

We incorporated one of our Jigsaw play towers, a TeePee along with new weptour surfacing with an inlaid road way. All these products have their individual benefits from providing physical play with our  Jigsaw Tower to help develop fundamental development skills, from the road way and Teepee to encourage imaginative play and improve social skills with interaction.

News Cwlch3 | Flying High! Cylch Meithrin'S Transformation | Creative Play

The nursery, which caters for children aged two and a half to four years old, has also separately purchased metal fencing, a shed and sandpit to complete their new outdoor space.

Carys, who has lived in the village since 1963 and whose four grandchildren all attended the nursery when they were younger, hailed the new play area as “fantastic”.

She added: “It makes it all worthwhile when you see the smiles on the kids’ faces. They were really enjoying themselves, playing and running around.

“The play area is fantastic. A lot of very good work has gone into. It’s just what the nursery needed.”

Carys’ daredevil exploits came about after she won the opportunity to take on the longest zip wire challenge in Europe at Penrhyn Quarry, Bethesda, in a raffle at her local bingo.

She said: “I didn’t really know what to do with it but then I decided that rather than giving it away I should do it myself and do it for charity.

“My daughter in law works at the nursery and we were talking about some local charities I could help.

“Then she mentioned the nursery and the plans for a play area so I decided I wanted to help them out.

“I took my three sons to the school over the road and my grandchildren went to the nursery when they were younger.

“The money I raised went a long way so I was really pleased to be able to help them. I’m delighted that the children have a play area to enjoy.

“It’s a very close community here and lots of people donated because they know me. I can’t thank them enough.”

Carys admits she found it a daunting idea taking on the mile long zip wire suspended 700ft in the air, but she was never going to back out despite her three sons, Ceirion, Cemlyn and Carwyn having their doubts.

She explained: “When I was on the stand ready to go down I was very nervous then. But once it started I could have gone on to Anglesey!

“It was a fantastic experience but I don’t think I’d do it again! It was a once in a life time thing.

“It was such a thrill but it’s certainly not something I’d usually do. It was out of character!

“When I go on a plane I always sit in the middle because I can’t sit by the window and look out.

“My sons all came to watch and I think they were very surprised when I did it. Everybody was!

“One of my sons was ready to take over just in case I changed my mind. They didn’t believe I could do it but I showed them!”

We designed the play area to ensure we met the  nursery’s specification and allowing for budgets and locations.

News Cwlch4 | Flying High! Cylch Meithrin'S Transformation | Creative PlayFor this specific development, our project manager Maldwyn Lewis overseen the project. It was a particularly satisfying job to work on given he has lived in the village for 25 years, and he was full of praise for Carys and everyone who helped make the project a reality.

He said: “It’s the type of community where everyone knows each other.

“I know Carys and her sons and the way she used the zip wire prize to her advantage to raise money for the play area is amazing.

“I can’t say I’ve ever come across someone raising money that way for a project like this.

“But it’s a close community here and it was a nice project for me to handle being local.

“The nursery is really pleased with the end result and that’s what matters most.

“The project has gone really well. They had nothing before and now it’s transformed.”

Dilwen Williams, Cylch Meithrin nursery leader, says they had been fundraising for the last couple of years and also managed to secure grants from OneFamily and Tesco as well as a generous donation from local business owner Manny Shocker, who was also a guest of honour at the opening.

She said: “We’re so pleased with what Creative Play have done. The new play area has gone down really well with the children – every day they ask to go out and play.

“It’s a big part of the curriculum now and expected by Estyn. They want the kids out and playing.

“Learning through outdoor play is a big thing now. There isn’t much for the children in the village and it feels like we’ve got this for them and it will be there for evermore.

“It’s a complete transformation when you see what it was like before. We’re really thankful to Carys and everyone who has helped make this happen.

“We are a very close knit community and we do like to help each other. Now we have something for the future of the village.”

News Cwlch1 | Flying High! Cylch Meithrin'S Transformation | Creative PlayCarys added she was proud that she completed the Zip World challenge but admits there won’t be any more thrill-seeking adventures in the future.

“No there won’t be any more”, she confirmed. “People keep saying you’ll be jumping out of a plane next. No thank you! I’m too old now. It’s back to a quiet life.”

We love providing children of all ages the opportunity to play, wither this be in a school, nursery, public park or even on days out and on holiday and every so often we work on projects that have a unique story behind them.

 

 

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How to Enhance your Business with your Outdoor Play Area

News Enhancepgcom Featured | How To Enhance Your Business With Your Outdoor Play Area | Creative Play

Here at Creative Play, we understand how important your outdoor play area is to your business. It should be an attractive, engaging area that is safe for children of all ages to play and interact with each other.

But with more and more businesses now offering small play areas with swings and a maybe a simple climbing frame, how can you stand out from the crowd? Here at Creative Play we can aid you in making your play area a real talking point and unique selling point for your business.

By making a few considered decisions during the design stage, we can make a real difference to your overall playground. Below, our in-house design department walks us through four different ways you can add that extra personalised touch to your outdoor play area, so children (and parents!) keep coming back for more.

News Enhancepgcom1 | How To Enhance Your Business With Your Outdoor Play Area | Creative PlayPICK A THEMED PLAY STRUCTURE

Is your business situated by the coast or do you want a play space that relates to the animals kept at your farm or zoo? Our range of themed play equipment is ideal for creating a strong link between your business and your outdoor play space.

Click here to browse our themed play pieces

CUSTOM ENGRAVING

With all our play equipment manufactured in-house at our Chester factory, we can add custom engravings to our coloured playtec panelling with ease. Why not engrave your business’s logo or mascot to make your play equipment one of a kind.

Click here to find out more about our bespoke services

SHOW YOUR TRUE COLOURS

Specify your playtec panelling and safety surfacing colours to match and enhance your business’s brand identity. With many to choose from, we’ll be able to create an impressive outdoor space for your customers.

Click here to find out more about our bespoke services

SAY IT WITH SURFACING

Due to the nature of our safety surfacing, we are able to inlay mascots, shapes & logos during the installation process. This adds an extra personal touch & helps strengthen the link between your business & outdoor play space.

Click here to browse our safety surfacing

Want Creative Play to help with the development of your outdoor play space? Get in touch today with our Chester HQ – click here

 

Want some more playground inspiration? Click here to access our brochure downloads page

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It’s Our Summer Newsletter Roundup!

News Summer18 Featured | It'S Our Summer Newsletter Roundup! | Creative Play

Summer is in full swing here at our Chester HQ, and everyone at Creative Play has been super busy designing, manufacturing and installing your playground developments. But what else have we been up to??? Check out our Summer Newsletter Roundup below to find out!

News Summer18 1 | It'S Our Summer Newsletter Roundup! | Creative PlayTop Marks!

Our recent development at Greenfields Community Primary School in Maidstone has been making headlines! Designed collaboratively with pupils and teachers, this project was all about combining classic play pieces with new contemporary showstoppers.

Click here to find out more about our Greenfields Community Primary School development

Partnering with Cheshire Wildlife Trust

We’ve teamed up with Cheshire Wildlife Trust to help aid their ‘Create for Nature’ carpentry workshop. We’ve been busy donating our excess timbers to serve as the raw materials for their awesome creations

Click here to find out more about our partnership

Introducing Work Out!

Work Out is our brand new outdoor fitness range designed to encourage a more active lifestyle outdoors! Constructed from robust timbers, our Work Out range offers durable products manufactured from the highest quality materials that are designed to last.

Click here to browse our new Work Out range

News Summer18 2 | It'S Our Summer Newsletter Roundup! | Creative PlayOur Latest Brochure has been Hitting Schools Nationwide!

Schools across the UK have been loving our latest brochure. Featuring playground inspiration, top product picks and an exclusive A1 product poster, it has everything you need to get your creative juices flowing!

Click here to get in touch

Our Trim Trail Range has Expanded

Arguably our most popular range here at Creative Play, we have expanded our Challenger Trim Trail range. Now featuring items in our popular round timbers, these are ideal for adding a more rustic touch to any play space.

Click here to browse our Round Challenger Trim Trail items

Show(ing) off

From local authorities to education-focused exhibitions, we have been busy attending lots of industry shows across the UK. With many more planned for 2019, we’re excited to discuss all things play with you in the near future.

Click here to get in touch

Want Creative Play to help with the development of your outdoor playground? Get in touch today with our Chester HQ – click here

 

Want some more playground inspiration? Click here to access our brochure downloads page