Playground Update – The Vision is Almost a Reality!

The Playground Group has been hard at work over the autumn and winter to make our new and improved playground a reality, and we are delighted to announce we have raised enough funds to begin the construction this spring! The vast majority of respondents who took part in the consultation said they'd be willing to wait until this spring/summer if it meant a much-improved park, so we are thrilled to have been able to raise sufficient funds to work to this timescale.

We have been working with a CWAC landscape architect to finalise designs according to the responses from our initial consultation. We can confirm the playground will be made predominantly of wood, as preferred, to blend in well and to adhere to the aesthetics of the conservation area. The park being wet and boggy is currently a big issue as we all know, so the plans begin with significantly improving the drainage to the area. The project is currently out to tender so that we get the best prices & quality possible.

Because we've been so successful in raising funds (for which we are very thankful to many organisations and individuals), we are so pleased to be able to include nearly all of the requests for preferred equipment – making the area so exciting and inclusive to all abilities! The image below shows the proposed layout of the playground. Click on the image to enlarge it.

We can't wait for our community to enjoy:
*Swings/Baby Swings/Cradle Swing
*Trim trail
* Junior climbing structure (includes monkey bars, climbing wall, slide etc.)
* Zip wire
* Springers
* Horse & Cart imaginative play
* Infant climbing structure (includes slide, etc.)
* Junior seesaw springer
* Timber climber
* Rocks/Boulders

The design also incorporates new pathways within the playground, and repairs to some existing paths around the park to improve accessibility. We'll be including new benches, picnic tables and bins so that all ages of the community can enjoy the new space (and help to keep it tidy)!

Over the years, the plants and bushes around the playground have become significantly overgrown, looking messy and unloved, but also blocking the view to the beautiful park as a whole. We'll be clearing overgrown bushes, implementing a seasonal planting scheme of many new trees, plants and flowers which will offer a changing palette of colours throughout the seasons. We'll be working hand-in-hand with the Tattenhall Wildlife Group (TWiG) to make choices that will be appealing to local wildlife and will make the park an attractive and inspiring place for children and adults alike. We will be inviting the community to help with planting parties after construction, so watch this space!

As for timing, as mentioned, the project is currently out to tender. We expect final decisions to be made on this and a contractor throughout April, and construction to begin on site in the middle/end of May. Our goal is for the park to be ready for play by the end of July for the school holidays, but we do ask for your understanding should unexpected issues arise (bad weather, equipment delays for example) during the construction phase. Everyone will be doing their best!

An official opening party will be in September, and a tree-planting day will take place in late November, as that is the best timing for planting trees.

We can't wait to start seeing the area take shape and are grateful to all of those who have helped make it possible. We know it will be a wonderful improvement to the village and we are so excited!