Little Harrowden's own little designers:
Little Harrowden's own little designers - After the huge success of one of Wicksteed’s Play Team projects – the design of items of outdoor play equipment and the presentation of the designs in a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style by a Primary School in Kettering, another school has shown a keen interest in getting involved.
Having set up many Play Teams across the UK in order to gain as much knowledge from youngsters about what they want to see in their playgrounds, the company was delighted to assist, and welcomed the addition of the Little Harrowden pupils to the Play Teams with open arms.
Inspiration from the real thing always helps the creative juices flow that bit more, so the young group was taken on a field trip to D’Albini play area in Stoke Albany, Northamptonshire, which Wicksteed had recently designed and installed. A grassy, undulating site, with gentle hills to roll down and challenging play equipment, this play area offers the visitor a perfect balance between natural and prescribed play. Absorbed in all the play opportunities provided at the site, the happy children were kept engrossed for the entire time. Investigating the individual products from their own perspectives; considering which pieces helped increase their strength, which enabled them to interact with friends and which stimulated their imaginative powers, for instance, the children were able to build a much fuller picture of all aspects of playground play.
Following this visit the freshly inspired pupils committed their thoughts and ideas to paper in both two and three dimensions, as they devised, painted, glued and stuck their drawings and models into play products and playscapes of their own. Taking inspiration from their visit to the Stoke Albany site, the pupils talked about their colourful and imaginative designs to Jill and Wicksteed’s Area Manager - Helen Sephton-Pike and Director - Stuart Wetherell.
The children took the project very seriously and Jill was delighted with the results: “It was a fantastic opportunity to collaborate with Wicksteed Playscapes and the children were so excited to see Helen and Stuart when they visited the school and the whole project gave a context to design and technology activities. The play equipment designs drawn by the children subsequent to their visit to the play park were far more complex and detailed, proving that they were beginning to understand more of the function and purpose of playscape design – be it social or imaginative or to develop strength and co-ordination skills.” A mutually beneficial research project for both the school and Wicksteed, it’s clear that it was a very positive experience all round! All the pupils had a great deal of fun during the whole project, gained an insight into the background of playscaping and thoroughly enjoyed presenting their designs to the experts.<< back to media centre
Helen and Stuart from Wicksteed with a group of pupils
pupils fully investigate the play area!
One group of pupils with their design
