TouchWood Play has just completed a major project to create two bespoke adventure play areas in Bluestone National Park Resort’s newly opened ‘Serendome’, an all-weather, covered area within the popular holiday resort.
Bluestone describe the new Serendome as the UK’s largest umbrella which aims to bring the thrill of the outdoors, indoors, inspiring play adventures for its visitors whatever the weather.
TouchWood’s talented team of designers and specialist craftspeople were engaged to design and build two inspiring natural adventure playgrounds in the Serendome consisting of a sand play area and water play area. Constructed from natural materials including quarried stone, larch, oak and chestnut logs, the new play areas aim to inspire a sense of wonder for the natural world by mimicking the natural features of beaches and forests.
The new natural play areas offer an exciting range of challenges and interactive games for children of all ages. The sand play area features an imposing multi-platformed tower within a large sunken sand pit. The treehouse-like tower features a maze of chutes, funnels and buckets on pulleys which children can use to transport sand up and around the tower. There’s also lots of opportunity for adventurous, active play with multiple platforms, scramble ramps, ladders and a fireman’s pole to explore.
The water play area includes a giant monolith stone, rock pools, a stream and a wide variety of sluice gates, bungs, water play tables, carved timber chutes and an Archimedes screw that children can use to direct the flow and speed of water in co-operation with others.
TouchWood Play is renowned for its use of high quality, sustainable natural materials in its custom-made play schemes for clients including The National Trust and The Forestry Commission and Schools and Councils throughout the UK.
TouchWood has developed a strong reputation for its work in the retail, leisure and tourism industry. The team have recently created the stunning tree house which featured in the RHS Back to Nature Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, a new play space in Bicester Village and helped design and build William’s Den, a large indoor, outdoor adventure experience in East Yorkshire. The team are currently working on a number of major play experience projects for visitor attractions including Umberslade Park Farm in Warwickshire.
TouchWood’s customers know that bespoke, natural playgrounds and play areas have the ability to attract increased numbers of visitors who are willing to travel further and spend longer, which offers a business opportunity that other types of play cannot match.
Speaking about the Bluestone project, TouchWood’s Founder and Chairman Joe Cooper said, “We’re delighted to have played a key part in the creation of the new Serendome at Bluestone. The unique sand and water play areas we’ve created are sure to be a big hit with Bluestone’s visitors and will help to significantly improve Bluestone’s visitor experience by providing unique and inspiring natural play experiences for children of all ages, whatever the weather.”
Want to create a natural play experience for your visitor attraction, park or school? Get in touch today!
