The parish council of Broad Chalke, a village just to the west of Salisbury, wanted to upgrade their existing play area. The project started off quite small, with the idea of just replacing a couple of pieces of equipment, but after getting the community involved this quickly changed to become a much bigger project. They had big ideas! Two local residents, Rosie & Victoria, visited schools and spoke to children about the play area they'd like, after all, it's all about the kids!
The Friends of Broad Chalke Playground (FoBCP) then went out to tender with a clear brief–they wanted a play area to cater for children of all ages and abilities–an area where their imagination could run wild, where younger and older children have their own areas to play with friends, while supporting their social and physical development.
We’d previously installed a couple of smaller play areas for Broad Chalke (a Jungle Adventurer in October 2005 and an Adventure Ship), so we knew the area really well. After submitting our proposal and a few conversations later, we were awarded the contract for the new community play area. The parish council had already seen the quality of our craftmanship and our attention to detail, a true testament to our previous installations.
Martin Altham, FoBCP treasurer, took on the challenge to raise necessary funding, which was achieved through various ways including the Wiltshire Area Board, Discworld Foundation and The National Lottery.
A large multiplay area for older children, which included Jungle and Mountain clubhouses and lots more; a tube connector and spiral slide, gangplank and rock wall, cargo net and rope bridge (to name a few). Together they can be anything a child imagines them to be–maybe a fort or castle, a place to play hide and seek, a game of tag or a giant obstacle race course.
It was designed to be challenging, allowing children to develop their cognitive, social and physical skills in a fun environment.
The 20m zip line, which runs along the edge of the play area, is certainly a firm favourite for children...and some adults too!
It’s one impressive playground, it’s something we’re incredibly proud of. It’s fantastic that it’s open. It is far better than we expected when we first kicked off this programme. And the feedback we get, people just think it’s wonderful! - Martin Altham, FoBCP treasurer
And then there's 'Little Broad Chalke', a fort for those who are still finding their feet. Lower level clubhouses with slides, gangplank, crawl tube and rope bridge, giving different textures and moving parts for younger children to experience. This low level play area is great for little ones testing their balance, but also means they can be supported by their parents and family at a comfortable height as they explore. A castle courtyard covered by a shade sail sits behind the fort entrance, and a shop front panel was used to encourage children to use their imagination further.
Another firm favourite for any play area are the swings. To ensure children of different ages were catered for, we included toddler and flat seats, as well as a nest swing.
Wait...there's still more! Next to the swings sits an in-ground trampoline for bouncing, an inclusive roundabout for spinning and a standing see-saw for balancing.
And finally there's the adventure play trails. This obstacle course is great for problem solving, agility and balance. Let their imagination run wild as they make their way from one end to the other without falling into the molten lava or shark infested waters.
The new play area is situated in the Broad Chalke playing fields, next to the Chalke Valley Sports Centre and Primary school. Why not pop along and have a play (we'd love to see the photos)!
It was opened to the community in July 2024, and was featured in the Salisbury journal.
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