Location:
Holland Park
Kensington and Chelsea
London
Date of installation: 2008
Kensington and Chelsea youngsters play in their natural habitat
The ancient trees in Holland Park have witnessed many changes. Where Wordsworth and Lord Bryon once walked as houseguests of the Earl of Holland, today the children of this leafy London Borough make their own poetry in motion in a verdant playground away from the bustle of the busy city.
Conserving this lush little oasis was the key to a new play area specifically designed for the younger age group. With a conservation order on every tree in the park it was imperative for its creators, Wicksteed Playscapes to preserve the natural habitat.
With a budget of £80,000, jointly funded by Transport & Leisure Services and Family & Children's Services, the Wicksteed team had to sensitively landscape the playground around each tree whilst also taking into consideration a natural grassy slope upon which the whole area is set.
"We wanted to retain the green and natural elements at all costs," says Jeremy Plester, from Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea's Transport and Leisure Services. "To us, a grassed area was crucial because it allows people to interact with the children in their care rather than be tempted to ‘just drop them off' and sit somewhere else."
This specially commissioned natural play area allows little explorers to have fun among the trees whilst climbing, swinging and sliding on all the imaginative and challenging equipment in between.
"The original play place was always extremely popular, but it suffered serious wear and tear," says Jeremy. "We have been able to dramatically improve the facilities for the younger kids with this adventurous play land and it has blended seamlessly into the landscape around it."
Even peacocks, which freely roam the ground, find this place a haven and can be seen strutting their stuff among the park goers on a regular basis.
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The play area in Holland Park has blended seamlessly into the landscaoe around it
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This was essential as each tree in the park has a conservation order in place
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