Celebrating 30 Years of Playsafe Playgrounds
On 1st May, we’re proud to celebrate 30 years of Playsafe Playgrounds. Since opening our doors in 1996— with our Director Duncan starting out in a tiny office—we’ve grown from dedicated playground installers into a company that designs, manufactures, installs and maintains bespoke Robinia playgrounds across the UK and abroad. It’s been quite a journey, but one thing has remained constant: our commitment to creating safe, high quality and welcoming spaces for communities to enjoy. Looking back through old photographs and our archives has inspired us to revisit some of our favourite projects from the past 30 years—each one a part of the story that’s brought us to where we are today.
Liphook – 1996
Please excuse the quality of this picture, it was taken with a digital camera in the 90s and it now lives in the Playsafe Playgrounds photo album. This is Playsafe’s first ever job, where we installed equipment for Liphook Town Council. We even have a news paper clipping that marks the occasion.
Over the next decade, Playsafe Playgrounds delivered numerous playground installations across the South of the UK, while steadily expanding its capabilities, resources, and workforce.
Myatts Field – 2008
Myatts Field marked a significant milestone for Playsafe Playgrounds. This large-scale project was one of our early major wet pour installations, featuring a wide range of vibrant graphics that helped bring the space to life.
The works were extensive and revealed an unexpected piece of the site’s history. Following the removal of the existing toilet block, we uncovered original gravel tracks once used for growing rhubarb when the park formed part of a Victorian garden.
A key feature of the park is its popular splash pool, which required the construction of a pump house. Rather than leaving this as a purely functional structure, we carefully integrated it into the landscape, creating a sculpted mound complete with boulders and a zip line to enhance both play value and visual appeal.
The project also included the installation of a range of play equipment, alongside bespoke seating and thoughtfully designed pathways, resulting in a dynamic and welcoming space for the community.
After years of successfully installing playgrounds as a trusted contractor, Playsafe Playgrounds took a major step and started developing and designing our own projects. Through this development, we discovered our calling of creating high quality playgrounds and transitioned from using soft wood to durable Robinia timber. During this period, the company also developed its own surfacing solution, officially trademarking SafaMulch™ in 2012.
Hove Lagoon – 2013
In 2013, Playsafe Playgrounds was appointed by Brighton & Hove Council to deliver a striking new play feature at Hove Lagoon, located beside the popular Big Beach Café. This project centered around the design and installation of a bespoke sunken pirate ship, crafted from durable hardwood Robinia timber.
Designed to capture imaginations and encourage adventurous play, the pirate ship was complemented by a series of hand-carved elements, including shark fins, treasure chests and barrels—adding character and storytelling to the space.
The project quickly became a standout attraction along the seafront, brought to life at its grand opening by Norman Cook, better known as Fatboy Slim, marking a memorable moment for the local community.
Big Parks Project – 2015
The Big Parks Project in Peacehaven stands as one of Playsafe Playgrounds’ most ambitious and community-driven schemes. Appointed to deliver a major new play area, we used durable Robinia timber—supplied by the Dylan Group—with all project management, fabrication and installation carried out by our in-house team to ensure a high-quality finish throughout.
The project was shaped through strong collaboration, with a board including Lewes District Council, Peacehaven Town Council, East Sussex County Council, REGEN – the Peacehaven & Telscombe Regeneration Partnership, and Peacehaven Community School. Backed by £2 million in funding from Southern Water and local housing developments, the scheme reflects a shared investment in the area’s future.
Following extensive public consultation, a masterplan by Allen Scott Ltd and Kaner Olette set out a wider vision for the park—incorporating improved sports facilities, a central activity hub with café, and inclusive open spaces. Located within an area of significant archaeological interest and bordering the South Downs National Park, the park now provides a unique space that connects community, heritage and the surrounding landscape.
Challoner School – 2017
In 2017, we transformed the outdoor space at Challoner School into a vibrant, multi-use play area, working around an existing shelter while extending the surfacing with colourful wet pour. The space was brought to life with fun, creative graphics, including a scooter track, 1–100 number grid, compass, alphabet train, and number trails—encouraging both play and learning.
We designed and built bespoke planters to define different zones, incorporating gates, seating and shaping a dedicated sandpit area for younger pupils.
A highlight of the project was the installation of Robinia play equipment, including a handcrafted play tractor with real tyres and a bespoke castle, both designed to spark imaginative play and exploration.
We were pleased to return the following year to install a resin-bound gravel pathway, including surfacing the ramp and adding drainage to improve access and usability year-round.
At this stage, Playsafe Playgrounds was in full swing, designing and installing playgrounds. Expanded workshop facilities—including a dedicated metal workshop—supported a growing product range and the creation of more tailored, site-specific equipment, giving the company greater control over its manufacturing and specifications.
Osea Leisure Park – 2024
Playsafe thoroughly enjoyed delivering this colourful and engaging splash park at Osea Leisure Park. The project offered a refreshing change from our usual work with councils and schools, giving the team the opportunity to design a strongly themed play area within a leisure park setting.
At the heart of the scheme was a Robinia timber pirate ship, finished in bright, vibrant colours to create a strong focal point and encourage imaginative play. We also designed and installed bespoke springers—affectionately named Simon the seagull and Colin the Crab—which were the first project produced using our new CNC machine, marking an important step forward in our in-house manufacturing capabilities.
The scheme was completed with wet pour surfacing, with both 2D and 3D sea themed graphics, that also function as fountains, adding an extra layer of excitement to the space.
Pioneer Play, Buckler’s Park – 2025
Working closely with Macgregor Landscape Architects, we helped create a natural destination park within the Crowthorne development, situated next to Buckler’s Forest. The 3,500sqm play space features a meandering pathway that winds through natural elements of grass and water, crossing a boardwalk and connecting a series of diverse Robinia play structures arranged across four distinct zones.
The park’s natural design strongly supports long-term sustainability. Over half of the area has been dedicated to open lawns, enriched with a biodiverse mix of sensory planting. More than 80 new trees have been planted to provide essential shade as summers become longer and warmer.
A standout feature is the 70m-long ‘wood wrap’, offering a sheltered retreat for wilderness away from the main play areas. The land has also been carefully shaped to manage stormwater retention, introducing an engaging and dynamic water play element—already a popular feature across Europe.
For younger children, a large sandpit encourages creativity and supports cognitive development, while a range of equipment for swinging and balancing provides opportunities for active play. These elements are all conveniently located near the community hub, helping to create a welcoming and inclusive space for all.
Penn’s Place – 2025
Playsafe Playgrounds was delighted to win the tender for the play area at Penn’s Place in Petersfield, as it presented a fantastic opportunity to leave our mark within our own community. We worked closely with Petersfield Town Council to design and deliver a vibrant, jungle-themed destination play park.
This colourful space features striking mulch graphics, painted Robinia structures, interactive play panels and detailed carvings, all contributing to an immersive and engaging environment. The park is packed with challenging climbing opportunities, including two towers, a trim trail and a nest tower, encouraging children to explore, develop confidence and stay active.
A standout feature is the six-seat contact swing, which adds a strong social element to the space—quickly becoming a favourite as children can swing face-to-face and share the experience with friends.
While the playground is already full of energy and activity, it has also been thoughtfully designed with warmer months in mind. The client prioritised seating and shaded areas, resulting in features such as a gabion bench set into a grassy mound, along with two sail shades—one positioned over a bench and another covering a DDA-accessible picnic table. In addition, existing trees provide natural shade, helping to create a comfortable and welcoming environment throughout the year.
