Working Alongside Nature at Calverley Lane

Working Alongside Nature at Calverley Lane

Client: Vistry West Yorkshire

Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire

“Playdale worked extremely well with our company and the specific scheme, going through a complex design process with the local council, which required several re-designs through detailed competitive pricing, to the full on-site installation and sign off, which all went well. I would not hesitate in considering them in the future for any other play schemes.” Jeremy Roberts, Operations Manager, Vistry West Yorkshire.

In 2020, Vistry West Yorkshire, a housing developer based in the north of England, approached Playdale to design a play area for their Calverley Lane development in Leeds. While the brief was straightforward, the large trees surrounding the proposed play area required a collaborative approach. To tackle this, Playdale worked closely with Vistry and their landscape architect, Brewster Bye, to overcome a number of design and installation challenges surrounding root protection areas.

The Design Solution

From the very beginning of the project, Vistry had one idea in mind. They wanted an area that’s more impactful and interesting than a LAP (Local Area of Play), the small play areas typically installed on housing developments. However, the development itself was not large enough to accommodate a playground that would meet the size requirements for a full LEAP (Local Equipped Area for Play).

Our Key Accounts Manager, Jane Camm, worked closely with Vistry to select a range of equipment that would deliver high amounts of play value while maintaining a natural timber theme throughout the space.

To support this vision, a Timber Seesaw, Team Swing, and Sheep Springer were installed, introducing proprioceptive movement through dynamic play, with a selection of Log Walks to encourage balance and coordination.

The Little Hamlets Tiddleywink Plus made a fantastic addition to the playground. With its timber poles and green HPL panels, it blends seamlessly with the natural aesthetic while providing children opportunities for spinning, climbing, sliding, and imaginative play all within one unit.

A Bandrake Seat provides a welcoming place for families to pause, relax, and enjoy the surroundings.

To further enhance the natural feel of the playground and improve accessibility, green and brown Playdale Bonded Rubber Mulch safety surfacing was chosen. This smooth finish not only allows more people to enjoy the playground but also complements the timber equipment, bringing the whole space together.

Working With Planners

Throughout the five-year project, the playground plans evolved through several revisions, including two site relocations. The final location was carefully selected in line with council planners’ vision to install the playground in a space where it would be overlooked by surrounding homes, helping to reduce the risk of anti-social behaviour.

Once the new playground location was finalised, Playdale worked with Vistry to finalise the fourth and final revision to the plans. The new area met all the criteria for everyone involved, making it a strong choice. Before we proceeded with finalising the plans, we had to ensure we respected the natural environment and that a root protection plan was in place before installation.

Playdale worked closely with both Vistry and Brewster Bye to design the final plan to align with the site’s root protection areas.

To ensure compliance with the root protection areas, our Playdale Contracts Manager personally marked out the site alongside our client’s Groundworks Contractor to ensure the boundaries were plotted carefully and that the root systems were completely avoided.

In addition, the entire on-site team was managed in accordance with the Tree Preservation Orders, carrying out work by hand rather than using machinery. They also followed a technical document that outlined the locations of the equipment outside the tree canopies.

This careful consideration and patience ensured the playground was installed in compliance with root protection areas and safety regulations.

5 Years of Collaboration

Following five years of planning and collaboration, the completed play area now provides a valuable community space for families within the development. The playground equipment has been designed to support a range of ages and play experiences, encouraging active use by children and families. The mature tree canopy also provides natural shade during the summer months, helping to create a welcoming space for outdoor play all year round.

It’s important to us at Playdale that we design playgrounds for not just people, but for the planet. Get in touch today and explore the possibilities natural playgrounds have to offer.