Make no mistake about it… adapted wheelchair sports programmes in the UK are on the rise. With over seven million people in the UK having some form of mobility impairment, the Disability Discrimination Act specifically requires that sport construction does not in any way impede a person with a disability from enjoying their training. Yorkshire-based manufacturer of synthetic surfaces Playrite know that the need to specify the right products for sporting facilities is seen as crucial if a whole swathe of the disabled community is to be fully included in UK sport.
Today the Paralympics are the second biggest sporting event in the world. At the 2012 London games, 4,200 disabled athletes participated in 20 sports in a stunning range of fully accessible, ‘universal design’ venues. The games are no longer about the rehabilitation of paralysed people: they are a great international sporting event in their own right. Other famous sporting venues have opened up to disability sports including Wimbledon, where wheelchair tennis is now played. According to Sport England “good facilities are undamental to developing sporting opportunities for everyone” and since the London Olympics and Paralympics 2012 has become more evident with the increase of participation in all sports at all levels.
The accelerated commodification of the Paralympic Games has seen it move from a pastime to a global sporting spectacle marking it as a hyper-visible space of disability representation. Indeed, the Rio 2016 Paralympics saw its largest global media audience of 4.1 billion, an increase of over 127% since 2004 which has had a positive knock-on effect in the UK for a host of wheelchair sports and increased sporting participation.
There is though, a ‘however.’ A lack of opportunities and accessible venues have been identified as the top two barriers to participation in sports and physical activity for wheelchair users and recent research has revealed high levels of demand among wheelchair users for a range of sports. Playrite has correctly identified that providing more artificial surfaces as opposed to grass or tarmac will close the gap in levelling up access to facilities that normally only able-bodied users would benefit from.
Approximately 54% of disabled people travel more than 30 minutes to take part in some form of sport or physical activity so there is a clear need for more opportunities to take place at a local level.
Playrite provides the highest quality of sport surfacing products for everyone, from grassroots community sport centres up to elite sporting facilities. In particular, they are keen to ensure their products are suitable for all users, in particular those who use wheelchairs in grass-based sports.
To guarantee that their products will serve the next generation of sporting greats Playrite submitted their Matchplay 2 surface for testing to determine the coefficient of friction when the surface is in use by wheelchairs. Surfaces require a coefficient of friction between 0.75 μ – 1.0 μ to be deemed suitable for wheelchair sports. Tests conducted by Labosport determined that Matchplay 2 had a rating of 0.96μ which deems it safe for wheelchair users and suitable for a number of sports including: Tennis, Hockey, Football, Netball and Basketball.
Chris Pickles, Sales Director, Playrite Ltd, commented, “We have had a large increase in demand from the wheelchair sporting sector for our Matchplay 2 synthetic grass surface. It seemed more than prudent to have our Matchplay 2 product tested by a recognised body. It’s crucial that sports surfaces meet the required friction ratings for wheelchair users. The Labosport report quite clearly shows that Matchplay 2 is more than fit for purpose in this sector.”
With access to extensive grounds, Aintree Davenhill Primary School is able to offer excellent educational experiences that foster an enjoyment of learning that allows every child the opportunity to achieve their full potential. A part of the external learning practices the school provides for the children is a focus on sports and physical activities.
Working with North-West-based Playsound Services ltd, the school wanted to regenerate an unused area of the school’s grounds. After some discussion, it was identified that the school was focused on raising awareness amongst KS1 & KS2 students about the importance of exercise and well-being. The team at Playsound Services advised the school that the most suitable option for them to encourage this would be with the installation of a range of outdoor fitness equipment.
After selecting a range of different pieces to feature in the fitness area, the team at Playsound Services recommended that an artificial grass surface be installed to further enhance the design. Having worked with Playrite on previous projects, they advise that the Nearlygrass 30 would be the ideal surface to accompany the equipment.
Playrite’s Nearlygrass artificial turf range is manufactured using the finest material and traditional techniques to produce high-quality grass that features a natural look and feel. Made with two-tone fibres, the Nearlygrass collection is available in 4 different pile heights with textures to suit every style and budget. The range is a hard-wearing and durable surface and ideally suited as a surface for an outdoor fitness area compared with harsher surfaces such as tarmac.
Collaborating with Playsound Services, resulted in a unique fitness area that the school can access all year-round and continue promoting exercise and well-being for generations to come.
Kids Planet Nurseries are responsible for the care and education of over 10,000 children across 82 sites in the UK and are fully committed to providing a unique environment in which children are actively encouraged to explore, learn and interact with others.
When the Chesterfield site was created, the staff were eager to inspire more outdoor play. With limited outdoor space, they contacted Newby Leisure, Natural Playground Design & Build Specialists where the design team worked with the staff at Kids Planet to add their magic touch to bring to life such a small space. Unlike previous projects, there wasn’t the capacity for streams and stage areas so the design had to create a concept that encouraged risk and challenge play. Their signature clamber tree was introduced along with some of their smaller features such as a nature table and outdoor play shop.
In keeping with the natural look required as part of the overall design, Playrite’s Nearlygrass 30 artificial grass was specified to complete the project. Playrite’s Nearlygrass collection has the look, touch, and feel of real grass, whilst providing a hard-wearing and durable surface which is an ideal solution for use with any school or nursery setting. Ensuring that outdoor play can take place all year round without the prospect of bringing the muddy outdoors inside, it is easy to maintain and keep clean. Not only is it soft to touch, if children fall, but they will also be supported by a cushioned surface.
Ashley Spink, Sales and Marketing Manager from Newby leisure, commented “Having worked with Playrite products on previous projects, we asked them to specify their most appropriate product for our client”. Ashley went on to say “The Nearlygrass products perfectly complement our designs, and visually enhanced the space to create a realistic grass surface that’s ideal for schools and nurseries. We wouldn’t hesitate to use Playrite surfaces for future projects’’.
Kids Planet Nurseries are responsible for the care and education of over 10,000 children across 82 sites in the UK and are fully committed to providing a unique environment in which children are actively encouraged to explore, learn and interact with others.
When the Davenport site wanted to completely redesign their outdoor area to house nothing but natural features,
they contacted Newby Leisure, Natural Playground Design & Build Specialists. Their experienced design team worked with the staff at Kids Planet to redesign their outdoor space to encourage role-play and push learning through play whilst children participate in outdoor teaching and learning.
As part of the design which included a stage area complete with seating, a reclaimed clamber tree to encourage children to climb and crawl and a shelter, the majority of the outside area was to be resurfaced. The previous surface was tired, dirty, and didn’t provide the children with a safe surface to protect against impact. With a natural look required as part of the overall design that would provide comfort should they fall, Playrite’s Nearlygrass 30 artificial grass was specified to complete the project.
Playrite’s Nearlygrass collection has the look, touch, and feel of real grass, whilst providing a hard-wearing and durable surface which is an ideal solution for use with any school or nursery setting. Ensuring that outdoor play can take place all year round without the prospect of bringing the muddy outdoors inside, it is easy to maintain and keep clean. Not only is it soft to touch, if children fall, but they will also be supported by a cushioned surface.
Ashley Spink, Sales and Marketing Manager from Newby leisure, commented “Having worked with Playrite products on previous projects, we asked them to specify their most appropriate product for our client”. Ashley went on to say “The Nearlygrass products perfectly complement our designs, and visually enhanced the space to create a realistic grass surface that’s ideal for schools and nurseries. We wouldn’t hesitate to use Playrite surfaces for future projects’’.
Kids Planet Nurseries are responsible for the care and education of over 10,000 children across 82 sites in the UK.
They are fully committed to providing a unique environment in which children are actively encouraged to explore, learn and interact with others.
When the Shrewsbury site was created, the staff were keen to make it the home of outdoor adventures and offer a collection of entertainment for the children. They contacted Newby Leisure, Natural Playground Design & Build Specialists where the design team worked with the staff at Kids Planet to bring to life a unique collection of outdoor experiences.
As part of the design, the playground encompassed play streams which are excellent for water play, whilst creating a tranquil area for children to relax and read a story together. With a natural look required as part of the overall design, Playrite’s Nearlygrass 30 artificial grass was specified to complete the project.
Playrite’s Nearlygrass collection has the look, touch, and feel of real grass, whilst providing a hard-wearing and durable surface which is an ideal solution for use with any school or nursery setting. Ensuring that outdoor play can take place all year round without the prospect of bringing the muddy outdoors inside, it is easy to maintain and keep clean. Not only is it soft to touch, if children fall, but they will also be supported by a cushioned surface.
Ashley Spink, Sales and Marketing Manager from Newby leisure, commented “Having worked with Playrite products
on previous projects, we asked them to specify their most appropriate product for our client”. Ashley went on to say “The Nearlygrass products perfectly complement our designs, and visually enhanced the space to create a realistic grass surface that’s ideal for schools and nurseries. We wouldn’t hesitate to use Playrite surfaces for future projects’’
Kids Planet Nurseries are responsible for the care and education of over 10,000 children across 82 sites in the UK, and are fully committed to providing a unique environment in which children are actively encouraged to explore, learn and interact with others.
When the Winnington site required a new lease of life needed for the outdoor area to deliver an enhanced outdoor experience, they contacted Newby Leisure, Natural Playground Design & Build Specialists. Their experienced design team worked with the staff at Kids Planet to incorporate different kinds of play into the scheme to offer the children the opportunity to experience contrasting sensory values. The final design incorporated elements that would help children develop fine and gross motor skills to help discover independence and positive self-esteem
As part of the design which included caves & streams, bridges, mud kitchen and sand play, the majority of the outside area was to be resurfaced. With a natural look required as part of the overall design, Playrite’s Nearlygrass 30 artificial grass was specified to complete the project.
Playrite’s Nearlygrass collection has the look, touch, and feel of real grass, whilst providing a hard-wearing and durable surface which is an ideal solution for use with any school or nursery setting. Ensuring that outdoor play can take place all year round without the prospect of bringing the muddy outdoors inside, it is easy to maintain and keep clean. Not only is it soft to touch, if children fall, but they will also be supported by a cushioned surface.
Ashley Spink, Sales and Marketing Manager from Newby leisure, commented “Having worked with Playrite product on previous projects, we asked them to specify their most appropriate product for our client”. Ashley went on to say “The Nearlygrass products perfectly complement our designs, and visually enhanced the space to create a realistic grass surface that’s ideal for schools and nurseries. We wouldn’t hesitate to use Playrite surfaces for future projects’’.
