Huck Nets Bring the Beach to Bracknell

Huck Play, a Division of Huck Nets, based in Bridport, Dorset has recently designed, supplied and installed a magnificent new destination playground at Locks Ride Recreation Ground in Bracknell. Located in a remote but beautiful spot on the outskirts of Bracknell in the Parish of Winkfield, the playing field has been transformed from being a mainly male dominated site with its two football pitches and cricket ground, to a facility that the whole family can enjoy. The new playground was championed by Winkfield Parish Council who managed, with help from Bracknell Forest Council, to secure £150K funding under the Government’s PlayBuilder Scheme. Being a remote area it was decided to build a destination park rather than a drop in playground. Following consultation with residents and schools in the area, the idea of a Mediterranean themed play area that would be fun and bring ‘a day at the beach’ to Bracknell, was born. After going through the strict tender process the contract was finally awarded to Huck Play, one of 14 UK play equipment suppliers to submit a tender. Huck Play’s scheme was considered to be the most innovative and the best interpretation of the brief. “Being manufactured mostly of rope and timber, Huck’s play equipment range not only fitted perfectly with the theme but also blended naturally into the beautiful scenery and surroundings at Locks Ride.” Said Councillor David Parkin who led the project. The new playground at Locks Ride covers approximately 730 square metres. It consists of an inclusive play area, a gym area and a barbeque area, all built around a splash-park. It has been designed by Huck’s Playground Design Manager, Tony Lucas who said “This has been a very enjoyable project to work on. I have worked very closely with the Locks Ride Working Party to ensure that their ideas were incorporated into the scheme. It has been very rewarding seeing the concept grow from paper to reality. Our equipment and the multiple colour choices were ideally suited to the Mediterranean theme chosen.. To give the site its beach feel I was able to place a varied selection of equipment in a large beach area, including swing, slides, climbing frames, water features and even a rope bridge to link natural mounds. I was also able to utilise our hemp sun sails in the barbecue area as well as our hammocks”. The Huck equipment used included: Rope bridge Cantilever swings Multi-base swing frame Bespoke climbing frames Trampoline Hammocks Twin cable ways Water and sand play tables Spiders Web Outdoor Gym Equipment As well as designing, supplying and installing all the play equipment, Huck have put down decking, provided picnic benches and four barbecues, available to hire from the Parish Council, and undertaken all of the landscaping. This included the planting of a number of magnificent trees and shrubs including palms, a 100 year old olive tree and a Ginkgo [the oldest known species of tree in the world] to complete the ‘Mediterranean Seaside’ theme.

For more information on Huck Nets Bring the Beach to Bracknell talk to Huck Nets (UK) Ltd