With a recent refurbishment of 2 courts at the beginning of 2020, the Shotley & Benfieldside Tennis Club started to
encounter an increase in court usage. This inspired the club to consider a second phase refurbishment to replace the remaining 3 court surfaces.
Founded in 1893, Shotley & Benfieldside Tennis Club in County Durham, is an established community tennis club with a thriving social scene, consisting of a unique indoor floodlit court and 5 additional outdoor tennis courts, all of which are artificial. The club decided to refurbish 2 of the courts in 2020 as they were worn and in need of replacement. The positive reaction from members enjoying the new courts and the increasing influx of court usage prompted the club to consider replacing the remaining 3 courts.
Whilst the remaining 3 courts were still in a reasonable condition, they showed signs of wear & tear and had started to become unreliable in poor weather and prone to flooding.
To help fund the project, members were asked to renew annual fees earlier than normal and were offered the opportunity to purchase a special 5/10-year membership. This investment allowed the club to fund the project and ensure that the work would be completed before the 2021 season began.
The club’s committee nominated a working party to investigate the market and test surfaces. Initial findings identified that Playrite’s Grandplay surface would provide the unrivaled durability and performance the club was after.
Grandplay is Playrite’s most popular tennis surface, suited for tennis players who want a faster pace. With a uniformed tuft density design to simulate a natural grass court with a positive grip underfoot, it makes it the preferred choice for many clubs.
To ensure that the surface was the right choice, the committee visited several clubs with Grandplay installed and tested the surfaces out by playing a few games of tennis.
The committee had several technical discussions with Playrite to agree some amendments to the specification to meet their needs and achieve direct equivalence with the previously installed courts.
Playrite recommended local contractors Fosse Contracts to complete the surface installation and having partnered
together on similar projects, were also able to offer a full turnkey solution that delivered an excellent all-weather
playing surface.
Committee Member, Tony Pensom commented, “This was our first experience of Playrite products and people. We are delighted with both – good, honest, quality people and a great product”.
The project was completed and ready for the 2021 season and members have been thrilled to experience the new courts.
In 2019 one of the world’s largest school buildings in a wooden hybrid modular construction was built, creating the Schule Westend Campus in Frankfurt. The building was designed to become a temporary location for both the primary and secondary schools in the local area until their permanent site is completed.
Using renewable raw materials, this distinctive building has been designed in a way that allows it to be dismantled and rebuilt at another location so that it can be reused in the future for other projects making it a uniquely sustainable building.
As part of the build, the outdoor area needed to provide a suitable area of play that could accommodate the needs of both the primary school children and secondary school students.
Architects GMP international, worked with outdoor surface contractors to find a solution that would look right within the temporary environment but that could also provide the children and students protection from potential injuries.
Playrite’s Matchwinner Velour 1300 in ochre, would create a remarkable sand-like look to the outdoor area, and additional shock pads underneath the surface would deliver the protection needed should any injuries be incurred.
Matchwinner Velour is a sand dressed needlepunch surface which is available in 14 different colours, and designed to be inset into the surface making it ideal for education spaces to make the area bright and bold. Matchwinner Velour can be installed directly onto tarmac or equally with a Playrite shockpad to prolong the life and performance of the surface. Meets the EN15330 Part 2 standards.
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.
On the outskirts of Huddersfield is the luxury Woodland Glade residential complex. Local residents have access
to their own community centre, which offers a range of facilities including swimming, tennis and football as well as
a range of social events throughout the year. Over recent years the club’s tennis court had seen better days and was due an upgrade.
With the club seeing an increase in participants using the tennis court, the club’s board members felt it was time to
invest in a new surface.
Having reached out to Mark Buckall at EB Sports to complete the refurbishment, the club were keen for his recommendations regarding the surface solutions options available to them.
EB Sports have previously worked with Playrite on a number of tennis court projects and were able to work with the client in determining the best solution for the community centre. With tennis being the primary sport played on the court, club members wanted the option to be able to play multi-sports on the courts without it impacting on the
effectiveness of the surface.
MUGA surfaces are becoming an increasingly popular choice for sports facilities, due to their resistance to
frequent wear and tear.
Playrite’s Grandplay range is one of their most popular MUGA surfaces, which is ideal not only for Tennis but other
sports including football and hockey.
Since the court has been installed usage of the court has seen an increase, not just to play tennis but also other sports. The club members are particularly delighted with the new surface as it simulates the look of a natural grass court.
Nurturing these values requires a stimulating and challenging environment where pupils can learn and develop their life skills not just within a classroom, but outdoors as well.
The school actively encourages pupils to embrace the outdoors with the introduction of sports from nursery levels upwards as part of the curriculum, and a vital part of this is having the right environment to thrive in.
Recently some areas of the school outdoor areas had become unusable and refurbishment was needed to bring some areas back to life. Wellington Prep contacted local playground specialists DBD play as they wanted to brighten up their play space and rejuvenate an unused area of their playground that was blocked off with posts.
They specified that this area had to be able to offer opportunities for nonphysical play and encourage communication and imaginative play.
DBD Play had installed Playrite’s MUGA surfaces at previous educational facilities and felt it would be an ideal solution to rejuvenate the unused areas. Specifying Playrite’s Matchwinner Velour in the bright and vibrant colour’s would highlight areas of interest within the ‘Trim Trail’ encouraging imaginative play and communication.
Playrite’s Matchwinner Velour surface is a sand dressed needlepunch surface, available in 14 different colours, and
enables designs to be inset into the surface which is ideal for primary spaces to make the area bright and bold.
Dan Brown, Playground Design Manager for dbd play, commented “With Playrite’s Matchwinner Velour vibrant
colours, it has enhanced the design and the overall experience for the children. We would highly recommend this surface for future projects.”
Working with French distributor EUROFIELD, the school identified that the new surface had to be suitable for the students to play a variety of sports including basketball and football. After some deliberation to determine what surface would provide the school with a long term solution, it was decided that Playrite’s Matchplay 2 surface would be the superior choice.
The Matchplay 2 synthetic surface has been designed with schools in mind, allowing them the opportunity to play multiple games in a single area making it ideal for any facility that is restricted in outdoor space but requires optimal usage all year round.
To ensure that the project would be completed to the highest standard, French contractors EPSL were employed to install the surface. Having previously installed Playrite products they had extensive knowledge and expertise working with these materials. It took over 1400m2 of Playrite’s Matchplay 2 to cover the outside area and resulted in an impressive sports court area which incorporates two colours to reflect the external colour scheme of the school. Since the surface has been installed, the school has been able to implement an all year round sports programme for the students to enjoy.
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’’.
Spread over twenty seven acres in the heart of central London, Paddington Recreation Ground has an enormous range of facilities, including outdoor tennis courts, bowling green as well as a 400m athletics track. As part of the investment program, Paddington would gain a new full sized 3G artificial football pitch.
Working with the onsite management company, Sports & Leisure Management, Active Westminster consulted with ETC Sport Surfaces about the project. ETC Sport Surface has for three decades held a reputation as trusted, expert provider of sports pitch construction, installation, surfacing and maintenance works. They pride themselves on being at the forefront of technological advances in surfacing solutions including 3G surfaces, asphalt, sand and acrylic surfaces, all weather pitches, clay and artificial turf solutions and much more.
Anticipating heavy use of the pitch and wanting a surface that would be durable and perform at a professional level it was key to ensure that the right surface was chosen. It was also specified that the pitch wanted a blue surround to go with Active Westminster colour scheme and would reflect the same design of the nearby hockey pitch.
After consultation with ETC about the performance criteria the pitch needed to meet and advice about the durable and ongoing maintenance requirements, it was deemed that Playrite’s Conqueror 60 sports surface in green for the main pitch area and also in blue for the surrounding border would be the perfect solution.
With the client in need of quick installation to keep the project on schedule, both Playrite and ETC were able to work together to ensure the installation was completed on time and at the highest standard.
Delivering this installation exceeded the client’s expectations and allowed Paddington Recreation Ground to continue providing their community with access to some of the country’s best facilities and allowing them to sustain and grow their voluntary, athletic and community sports sector.
