PLAY FAIR EVENT REVIEW
Karen Maxwell reviews some of the play industry
trends and products highlighted at the recent Play
Fair event at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire
FAIR PLAY
T
wo days of glorious sunshine ac- into the show to give buyers an opportu- to use the wider landscape rather than a
companied PlayFair 2009, the play, nity to see the equipment in use. fenced-in park corner. This solution may
sport and leisure activity event that require additional maintenance but we
took place at Stoneleigh Park, War- Addressing the issues for play are currently working on a guide on Na-
wickshire in June this year. Play England director Adrian Voce took tional Play Maintenance, which should
The first national trade show dedicated the opportunity to introduce the give advice on possible issues when it’s
to play was launched by the Association organisation’s recently appointed assistant released later this year.”
of Play Industries (API) last year. How- director, Dave Taylor, to the industry dur- Voce also welcomed the fact that the
ever, this year promised to be bigger ing one of the show’s scheduled seminars. Association of Play Industries (API) had
and better – and it delivered, with more Together they brought a packed audience hosted a debate on the best way to use
exhibitors and a 35 per cent increase in up to date with issues surrounding the De- space for play provision, as discussed
visitors to the event. partment of Children, Schools and Families’ in Noel Farrer’s seminar on ‘raising the
Showcasing the latest from the out- (DCSF) £235m, 10-year Play Strategy. quality of play space through design’. A
door play equipment and service market, According to Voce, the government’s member of the Landscape Institute, Far-
more than 740 visitors witnessed the lat- support and funding of the strategy and rer suggested designing a project with
est on offer from 39 manufacturers and its subsequent publication of the Design children’s needs at heart that would
service providers. The majority of visitors for Play guide has encouraged local au- evolve into a provision that encouraged
were from local authorities keen to seek the child to stay longer.
advice and learn how best to spend their
We’d like to see play
Another seminar discussion was ‘de-
budgets. A high percentage of landscape provision that offers sign by inclusivity’ by the charity KIDS,
architects and playground designers from
elements of landscaping
in which Alex Mills discussed the legal
the private sector also attended. requirement for accessible and inclusive
With exhibitor space up by 40 per cent
and natural beauty
play provision within the guidelines set
compared with last year, new exhibitors that expands a in the Play Strategy. She also highlighted
included Wicksteed Playscapes, Husson,
child’s imagination
the importance of consulting with dis-
Record RSS, Notts Sport, SMP, Jupiter abled children and young people in the
Play and HAGS Play. While Sutcliffe Play, thorities and play suppliers to think process and discussed the six inclusive de-
Kompan, Lappset, Proludic, Huck Nets, differently about the concept of play. sign principles: diversity and difference;
Playdale, Park Leisure and UAC were “Historically, play provision has been ease of use; freedom of choice and access
just some of the exhibitors that returned pretty much bog standard, but thanks to mainstream activities; quality; legibility
for this year’s event. to the government’s support, the tide is of child-friendly signs; predictability and
The central PlayFair Playscape was now beginning to turn towards more ex- of course, safety.
designed with nature in mind by outdoor citing play opportunities,” says Voce. “The whole event highlighted the im-
play companies Proludic, Kompan, Eibe “We’d like to see play provision that portance of creativity, which hopefully
and Sutcliffe Play. This demonstrated offers elements of landscaping and encouraged local authorities to look at
a mix of landscaping, natural play as natural beauty that expands a child’s bespoke play provision that offers land-
well as fixed equipment for children’s imagination rather than settle with scaped design and play opportunities that
play design ideas that could easily fit into something that they’ll get bored with catch a child’s imagination,” says Voce.
a public park environment. Groups of after half an hour,” he explains. “Provid-
local schoolchildren were also invited ers need to think about allowing children
Play Fair product reviews start on page 70 > > >
68 Read Sports Management online
sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009
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