Climbing:Layout 1 01/07/2009 16:33 Page 38
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It has long been recognised that climbing can be an effective vehicle for delivering education
and personal development. However, while the UK has many climbing venues ranging from sea
cliffs through to small urban gritstone edges, the challenges these locations present can
preclude access for all but specialist outdoor pursuits providers.
I
T IS NOT surprising then that there has The structural aspects of building a
been an explosion in the number of climbing wall will of course follow the
artificial climbing walls in schools and design but as Paul Myers of Rockworks
colleges. Cimbing walls present a range of says, “integrating a climbing wall to an
challenges from design through to build existing structural design poses a range
and management that are quite different of challenges not met when the initial
to other sports facilities. They also present design accommodates the wall.”
a number of far reaching opportunities,
suggests Emma Flaherty, key project Clear space
coordinator at Links School Sports One area which frequently causes conflict
Partnership. “Schools are a hub of the between the wall design and other planned
community and climbing is brilliant for uses is the issue of 'safe falling zones'.
engaging the community in education, which The European standard for climbing walls,
ultimately will encourage new partnerships CEN 12572-1 requires that the wall
and opportunities for all,” she explains. requires space around it of at least 2m
It would however be simplistic to behind and 1.5m to either side. While this
suggest that all the potential benefits of standard appears to present few
a climbing wall can be achieved without an problems, the location of stairwells and
understanding of the distinct issues doorways can, in effect, radically limit the
surrounding the integration of design, design options and consequently the uses
build and management of a climbing wall. to which the wall can be put.
38 edbmagazine.co.uk
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