Swindon School Playground Design - Wiltshire
A stunning playground design installation and construction in Swindon - made from sustainable sourced FSC timber and recycled blue rubber chips
The Swindon school playground design and construction project in Berkshire transformed a previously uninspiring area of bare concrete slabs into a vibrant, engaging, and sensory-rich environment for children.
The brief called for a visually stunning and highly functional outdoor space that would encourage play, learning, and exploration. The result is a thoughtfully designed playground incorporating a variety of innovative and sustainable features.
Quote from Head Teacher
"The transformation of our playground has been incredible. It’s not just a place to play – it’s a space where children can explore, learn, and develop their senses safely, all year round.
The design perfectly balances fun, education, and sustainability."
At the heart of the playground is a bespoke, hand-crafted water feature, providing both visual appeal and sensory interaction.
Surrounding the play area, blue rubber chips—made from 100% recycled materials—replace traditional bark, offering a cleaner and more hygienic solution while preventing unwanted interference from animals.
Safety was a key consideration throughout the project, with specialist safety flooring installed to reduce the risk of injury from falls.
In Brief
- Transformed bare concrete playground into a vibrant sensory space
- Included play area, water feature, and raised sensory planting beds
- Pergola installed for climbing plants and natural shading
- Unique hand-crafted water feature for interactive play
- Blue rubber chips (100% recycled) used instead of bark for cleanliness
- Safety flooring installed to reduce injury from falls
- Octagonal outdoor learning centre for lessons and group activities
- Sandpit with removable timber covers for protection and hygiene
- Pyramid-style roof over sandpit for all-weather use
- All timber sourced from sustainable FSC-certified suppliers
- Artificial grass provides a lush, low-maintenance surface year-round
- Free-standing play structure installed directly on existing concrete
- Shock pads placed beneath artificial grass for added safety
An octagonal outdoor learning centre creates a dedicated space for group activities and lessons, blending education seamlessly with the outdoor environment.
The playground also includes a well-designed sandpit with timber removable covers and a pyramid-style roof, ensuring it remains usable and protected in all weather conditions.
Sustainability played an important role in the construction, with all timber sourced from FSC-certified suppliers.
Raised planting beds filled with sensory plants, along with a pergola designed for climbing greenery, further enhance the natural feel of the space and provide year-round interest.
Quotes From Parents
“Our children absolutely love the new playground – the water feature and sensory plants make every visit exciting and engaging.”
“We appreciate the thought put into safety and sustainability; the recycled rubber chips and soft surfaces give us peace of mind.”
“The sandpit and outdoor learning centre have quickly become favourites – it’s wonderful to see the kids learning and playing outside all year round.”
A key advantage of this project was its free-standing design.
The entire play structure was installed directly onto the existing concrete surface, eliminating the need for extensive groundwork. Beneath the artificial grass, shock pads provide additional cushioning, ensuring a safe and comfortable play surface.
Overall, the project successfully delivers a low-maintenance, all-weather playground that is both practical and inspiring.