outdoor play equipment
‘The outdoor play market is always buoyant’
Outdoor play equipment is a potentially lucrative market, with gardens providing ideal opportunities for children to let their imaginations run wild
W
ith garden centres firmly positioned as family friendly destinations, there is an
opportunity to appeal to the younger generation in the outdoor play equipment category. In order to see success, imagination and inspiration are key. One of the companies that has been tapping
into this trend is The Playhouse Company, which is celebrating 25 years of creating fantastical outdoor play areas for children this year. Founder and managing director Richard Frost has designed a wide variety of bespoke outdoor play houses, and believes in the importance of encouraging children to spend time away from screens.
“The whole process is about bringing imagination to life,” he says. “Simply put, the inspiration just comes from my head, I guess I am really a big kid at heart! The children get to play on the structures, but we get to build them, which, to me, is even more fun! “My favourite projects are those that involve the children themselves. Generally, adults have a much more prescriptive view on what there should be and what they would like, but ultimately, it’s the children who I think should decide! It is them after all who will be using it for years to come. “We try to speak to the customers’ children as
The Playhouse Company designs and constructs bespoke play areas, from small patio spaces to major projects
early as possible in the process (before the parent has a chance to be involved). When you ask them if they would like their very own cave, dungeon, fairy castle, pirate ship or shops with slides, swings, slopes, ladders and passages their eyes light up. We can then easily attribute these desires to locations within the project. The end result may be the same, but the whole project takes now takes on a more magical feel.” Engaging children in the process and igniting their imagination is a good route to ensuring they are interested in the end result – and meaning they will end up engaging in activities which are beneficial to them. Richard continues: “Children need to be
given chances to play outside, they always have done. The great outdoors offers so much scope to let imaginations, and children, run wild! Just because life is different these days, it does not mean that, on the vast majority of days, even with our weather, children shouldn’t be able to play outdoors. I’m a big believer that there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing! “However, encouraging children away from the indoors can often be challenging and requires a good reason. If you also factor in that these days the world seem less safe for our children than we remember, having this special space within the confines of our own garden is a big reassurance for us parents.”
When planning a project, there are many considerations which ought to be taken into account. “The first thing to consider is the location,”
explains Richard. “A playhouse needs to be in keeping with its surroundings, whilst offering a fun play area, but also being mindful of neighbours. The garden is a shared space so you should also consider keeping the project to a scale where the whole garden won’t be taken over, dedicating a special space for play. A discreet position, for example hidden behind trees, not only keeps the play area away from the main garden but adds to the magic for children. “You may already have the perfect spot without realising it. Slopes, uneven land, existing trees, shrubs and overgrown areas should all be seen as advantages not problems; established planting can be incorporated into a design to make the project seem a natural addition to the garden that simply blends in.” He adds: “A playhouse can easily become a
treehouse, even without a tree! To a child, a treehouse is a playhouse accessed by steps. Raising a house on stilts is also a great way of adding height and creating a whole other level for children to play in, even just being a few feet off the ground can feel like sky level to a small child! It is also a great way of maximising space.” Even after 25 years, the enthusiasm from Richard is undimmed.
“Designing a playhouse can almost be as much fun for the adults as for the children!” he notes. “It brings everyone together and really gets imaginations, and nostalgia, flowing. Careful thought and consideration are required to make sure everything is perfect but a whole world of imagination is soon opened up.” Richard is also optimistic for the future of the
market. “The outdoor play market is always buoyant,”
he says. “Children are always born, parents thankfully always want to make their children’s lives fun, and play will always be part of our DNA. “In terms of the future, I don’t see a
fundamental change to the design of the playhouse or treehouse of our children’s children. They will of course continue to live in a fast-changing world with digital accessories of every shape and for every purpose, but just as adults still enjoy a good old pint or cup of tea, children will always enjoy imaginative play.”
14 |
www.gardencentreupdate.com GCU July/August 2018
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24
