Ferry Meadows get new play kit

A new nature-inspired play area opened at Ferry Meadows yesterday, with school children getting first go on the equipment.
Pupils from KS2 at St Botolph's C of E school trying out the new play area facility at Ferry Meadows EMN-160427-153730009Pupils from KS2 at St Botolph's C of E school trying out the new play area facility at Ferry Meadows EMN-160427-153730009
Pupils from KS2 at St Botolph's C of E school trying out the new play area facility at Ferry Meadows EMN-160427-153730009

Pupils from St Botolph’s CE Primary School, who have been involved in the project, opened the ‘Badger play area’ at 1.15pm.

The central part of the playground is a large crawling tunnel leading to a bridge with a den shaped like a badger and a slide.

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Other features include climbing trees and a wheelchair accessible in-ground trampoline and swings.

Pupils from KS2 at St Botolph's C of E school trying out the new play area facility at Ferry Meadows EMN-160427-152916009Pupils from KS2 at St Botolph's C of E school trying out the new play area facility at Ferry Meadows EMN-160427-152916009
Pupils from KS2 at St Botolph's C of E school trying out the new play area facility at Ferry Meadows EMN-160427-152916009

In addition, the Nene Park Trust, which runs Ferry Meadows, has created an area of streams and ditches for children to clamber and explore.

The play area at the site in Ham Lane cost about £140,000 to design and create and is accessible from the visitors centre by heading around the top of Overton Lake to get to Overton Bank.

Teresa Wood, head of visitor services, said: “The Badger playground is the second of our play areas to have an exciting makeover.

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“Otter playground, which opened in April 2014, was really well received by our visitors and we hope the new Badger play area will be just as popular and will increase the value of adventure play in Ferry Meadows.

Pupils from KS2 at St Botolph's C of E school trying out the new play area facility at Ferry MeadowsPupils from KS2 at St Botolph's C of E school trying out the new play area facility at Ferry Meadows.   Guests and pupils at the opening ceremony EMN-160427-153314009Pupils from KS2 at St Botolph's C of E school trying out the new play area facility at Ferry MeadowsPupils from KS2 at St Botolph's C of E school trying out the new play area facility at Ferry Meadows.   Guests and pupils at the opening ceremony EMN-160427-153314009
Pupils from KS2 at St Botolph's C of E school trying out the new play area facility at Ferry MeadowsPupils from KS2 at St Botolph's C of E school trying out the new play area facility at Ferry Meadows. Guests and pupils at the opening ceremony EMN-160427-153314009

“We have worked with local schools, a local guide group and Little Miracles, a charity that supports children with additional needs, as well as our Nene Park volunteers and staff to understand what our visitors want from the play provision in the park.”

Andrée Davies, of landscape architects Davies White Ltd, said: “Nature is the ultimate playground and that’s exactly what we have designed here.”

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