At TouchWood, we are passionate about real play.

We design, build and install unique, natural playgrounds that inspire, challenge and connect children with nature.

Since 2002, we’ve created hundreds of play experiences for parks and public spaces, schools, visitor attractions, trusts, charities and commissions. Whether you want a nature trail, play area or show-stopping adventure playground, we have the knowledge, experience and passion to bring your vision to life.

Our mission is to create amazing, unique play experiences where kids can use their imagination to have their own adventures in a safe, stimulating and natural setting.

The spaces we create are meaningfully connected to their surroundings and to the clients we work with. Because at TouchWood, we play together.

Like you, we understand just how essential play is to a child’s development and growth.

We know how active, adventurous outdoor play stimulates their senses and sparks their imagination. We’re constantly showcasing and celebrating the many benefits that play brings to a child’s health, wellbeing and relationships.

But real play isn’t just great for kids the world over. It can do wonders for your business and brand too.

A natural playground can dramatically increase footfall, dwell time and ROI, not to mention repeat visits and back-so-soon customers.

Community engagement.

We recognise that unique communities need their own unique play landscapes. Whether you’re a small rural school, or a large leisure, tourism or retail business, our design process matches the ambitions of your community with your budget, your unique environment, and your vision for play.

We actively involve all of our clients in the creation of our playgrounds – from those clients who want a simple telephone conversation about what they hope to achieve to Designing for Real days with National Trust volunteers, all the way through to five-day design and build workshops with community groups – we have a design solution that we can tailor to the level of community engagement that you want.

Our play values.

Our bespoke natural playgrounds are designed to be accessible for adults as well as children, encouraging cross-generational play. Even though we offer opportunities for a broad range of play values – like climbing, scrambling, balancing and swinging – our installations are defined by the way that they trigger the imaginations of the players.

The natural twisting forms of our raw materials and the clever subtlety of narrative in our designs enable children to play out their dreams – whether that’s climbing inside giant trees or dancing in the rain!

Sustainability.

In addition to the playful aesthetic that wood presents, it is also a sustainable choice for building materials. Wood locks up carbon, buying wood brings income to local landowners, and old wood is easy to recycle. Children are fascinated by the lifecycle of trees, and we are always seeking to widen children’s understanding of the importance of building with trees through assembly presentations and hands-on workshops.

Yes, we’re green as can be! From sustainable sourcing to educating kids about their environmental impact, there are plenty of opportunities for people of all ages to get hands-on with us through design days and sustainable carpentry workshops.

Beyond the build stage.

Our dedicated team of craftsmen are committed to looking after our play areas and ensuring that they last as long as possible and continue to be enjoyed for years to come. We will come to your play area and conduct a detailed survey of all the items we installed.

Any low-level maintenance tasks like minor repairs on timber, sanding timber, replacing plugs, tightening ropes and replacing fixings will be undertaken during the time allocated for this visit.