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St Augustines Green, Ipswich

Client: Ipswich Borough Council


Cost: £77,000


Date: May 2019


Genre: Community, Inclusive, Landscape

A space for everyone to play

The area of St Augustines Green off Bixley Road in Ipswich had experienced problems in recent years, becoming run down and in need of a refresh.

The Council was looking to make the best use of the space, whilst accommodating children and adults of all ages to create a pleasant, interactive hub for the community. After the Council received a government grant, Sutcliffe Play was briefed to create three distinct areas for toddlers, juniors and adults to enjoy.

The Toddler space needed to be bright and vibrant, with plenty of play opportunities designed to stimulate the imagination and encourage explorative, active play. For the Juniors area, we were asked to consider an exhilarating, energetic space for young children, whilst for the Adult space, the priority was to create a space for physical fitness and exercise.

Aligning with the brief, we created three unique spaces for children and adults at St Augustines.

As one of the first sites to have the Body’s fitness equipment range installed, we recommended a complete selection of fitness units for the adult space, designed to work almost every part of the body for a full outdoor gym experience.

Durable and easy to use, a selection of equipment modelled on traditional gym kit includes the Rower, Leg Press and Stepper, with additional items such as the Air Skier, designed to work the muscles in the hip belt, and Pull Down Challenger, to strengthen the muscles in the arms.

A colourful, vibrant space was created for toddlers to enjoy, featuring a wide variety of stimulating and inclusive play equipment from standalone items to multi-play units.

In addition to the Dice Play Panel, Sensory Flower, Country Town Mini Panel and Ladybird Springie, among other items, the Mushroom Village & Igloo was selected to encourage inclusive activities and social interaction.

Featuring a two-sided design with frozen arctic scenery and a mushroom house, the Mushroom Village & Igloo unit includes themed panelling, a tree house, slide and climbing ramp, for children of a range of abilities to enjoy side-by-side.

The Two Turrets unit was also installed, complementing the rest of the space, with opportunities for toddlers to play freely on this castle-themed kit that comes with a slide, rope bridge, and two separate turrets.

For the Juniors area, it was important to get the balance right; encouraging exercise with more challenging units designed to stimulate and get young children moving and exploring. The Cableway from the Mission range, provided the perfect, high-flying experience for children, being both exhilarating and fun.

A Mission Multi-play Unit was also recommended, with plenty of features such as bannister rails, climbing walls and platforms to keep children engaged. This was complemented by a Nest Swing, to accommodate children of varying abilities, and a Single Point Swing, which gives children the opportunity for more organic play, can be used for up to five children – encouraging social interaction – and also provides a more gentle motion when needed, for fully inclusive play sessions.

With a unique look and feel for each space, Sutcliffe Play created the perfect hub for local children and families to enjoy, with an activity to suit all needs and abilities for a true community space.

Playground Equipment:

Toddler area

2.4m High Swing

A swing unit complete with two bumper seats and chains.

Ladybird Springie

This unique springie offers a robust construction, and familiar red body with black spots that’s instantly recognisable for children. Ergonomic rubber handles allow for excellent grip, with foot and heel rails providing additional support.

Mushroom Village & Igloo

Creating an opportunity for children’s imaginations to run wild, the Mushroom Village and Igloo features a central tower, with tree themed panels, tree house upper level on one side and a snowy peak on the other. The unit comes complete with a plastic slide and inclusive climbing ramp, so children of a range of abilities can play side by side. On the Mushroom Village side of the unit, children can explore a ‘mushroom house’ under the slide, while a spotted roof, chimney and working post box offer the chance for stimulating social games. The Igloo side features an arctic central platform with clouds and sun overhead, and an igloo that sits under the slide with a door and mini megaphone.

Mushroom Igloo

Country Mini Town Panel

A themed panel acts as a backdrop for children’s imaginative play, including a letterbox and sunflower maze.

Sensory Flower

Designed for use on its own or in ‘bunches’ the Sensory Flower, an internal ball bearing runs around the inside of the flower to create sound as it spins, while a spiral in the centre creates an optical illusion as children play.

Dice Play Panel

A panel featuring a dice design, encouraging youngsters to spin and play.

Flower Springie

A fun floral design makes this springie stand out, with foot and heel rails, a rubber moulded seat, and a simple backrest offering support for users.

Back to Back Roundabout

A roundabout designed to be more accessible for disabled children when transferring from a wheelchair, the backrest and side support frames help children with poor mobility to use it like a chair.

Two Turrets

A castle theme accompanies this unit. Shuffle decks enable most users to access the wide slide, while a net bridge leads to the second castle turret before returning to ground level.

Two Turrets

2.4m High Swing inclusive seat and pod seat

Swing unit that includes a pod seat for added support of the child’s body, and an inclusive swing seat for children with limited hand-eye co-ordination abilities, allowing all children to enjoy the sensation of swinging.

Junior area

Mission Cableway

A cable slide designed for junior children, for a thrilling high-flying experience.

Glide

Mission Multi-play Unit

Featuring banister rails, climbing wall and platforms of varying levels, these multi-purpose play units from the Mission range offer older juniors testing physical play opportunities, for high-energy, invigorating play sessions.

Single Point Swing

A free form swing on which up to five children can sit or stand. This swing packs an extra punch for children looking for more dynamic play but can also allow for more gentle motion for inclusive play activities. The swing can also be used by adults.

Nest Swing

This nest swing has been specially designed to accommodate several young children, including those with special needs, and is designed like a bird’s nest allowing children of all ages to swing together.

Adult area

Leg Press

For a workout of the abdominal muscles and lower limbs, users sit comfortably on the seat placing their legs on the platforms and straightening them out with a smooth movement pushing their legs away from the device. This unit not only helps to develop quadriceps, but to improve joint function and circulation.

Rower

With the Rower, users can strengthen and build their upper and lower limbs, as well as the chest and abdomen, by straightening the body upright while pulling the handles together. This unit also helps to keep the lumbar spine flexible.

Rower

Stepper

For users wanting to increase the strength of glute and leg muscles, this is the go-to kit in the Bodys range. Keeping feet adhered to the ground, users must bend their knees slightly while making alternative movements that mimic climbing the stairs. This unit also helps improve overall body performance and the cardiovascular system.

Air Skier

Strengthens the muscles of the hip belt, as users place their feet on the platforms, hands on the handles, and move from left to right in a swinging motion.

Leg Lift

This unit can be used in two ways to strengthen the arms, abdomen, back, or to act as a stretcher. Users can either grab the upper handles, pulling their legs up to their chest and then lowering them, or lie on the ground, placing feet on the ladder at waist level and performing sit-ups, pulling their upper body towards the feet and back down again.

Rails

Use these simple but effective Rails to strengthen the arms and abdomen and improve the coordination of the shoulder. This kit can be used in two different ways for maximum effect; either by lifting your feet off the ground and pulling yourself up with your back to the device and arms at a right angle, or by standing in front of the device, holding the handrails and bending your arms at a right angle to the elbow to do push-ups.

Pull Down Challenger

Strengthen the muscles of the arms, chest and back by sitting comfortably, holding both handles, and pulling handles towards you in a smooth motion.

Chest Press

Best for working the muscles of the arms, chest and back, users sit comfortably placing their legs on the platforms, and pushing the handles away with a strong but smooth movement, straightening out the arms.

Bench with Bike x4

These benches function like a regular exercise bike, with the bonus of being able to sit comfortably, while peddling to strengthen and build leg muscles while improving circulation.

 

 

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Rope

Durable steel-cored rope is a hugely versatile material, which offers great utility as part of more challenging equipment, such as our climbing and balancing focused Mission and Neo ranges, whilst also being used to create the colour contrasting scramble nets found on a number of our inclusive-focused units.

The rope’s steel core offers great durability, allowing it to endure heavy sustained usage for long periods without requiring replacement. Not only does this minimise wastage, but at the point that replacement finally does become necessary, its environmental impact is mitigated by the fact that steel is one of the world’s most recyclable metals.

Prior to this, however, sustainability is also a key consideration for us during the initial stages of our equipment’s development. This is why we seek to deal with responsible suppliers at all times, and participate in a sustainable supply chain with environmental consideration at its heart.

Both of our wholesale suppliers of steel-cored rope hold all of the relevant credentials to operate in a modern, climate conscious marketplace, and both source their rope from a respected third-party enterprise which holds the ISO 14001. This internationally recognized standard demonstrates their commitment to minimizing their environmental impact, and continuously improving their performance in this area.

Our nets and ropes are covered by a 2-year warranty against non-structural failure due to faulty workmanship or materials.

Anti-Slip Surfacing

Many of our products, especially our multi-play units, are designed to enable fast, thrilling, kinetic play for all ages and abilities. This is why durable, hard-wearing anti-slip surfacing is another key material used in our factory, to deliver the safest, highest quality playing experience for children.

The two most commonly used materials in this regard are Hexastrong panels and WISA®-Multifloor panels. The former is found primarily on the walking decks and steps on many of our multi-play units, including in our MiniTown, Toddlerzone and Playzone ranges. With their hard-wearing nature and excellent strength to weight ratio, these panels are ideally suited for use on playground equipment, and as they are produced primarily from timber, they can be considered a renewable resource.

Durable WISA®-Multifloor panels are also utilised most prominently in our Toddlerzone and Playzone ranges. Constructed from birch veneers bonded together with weather-resistant glue and coated with an elastic overlay, they deliver a strong, safe surface on walking decks and steps, upon which children can play freely.

As with all materials involved in the manufacture of our products, we work hard to ensure we deal with responsible suppliers at every stage, and participate in a sustainable supply chain with environmental consideration at its heart:

Both of our Hexastrong suppliers are UK-based, reducing emissions from overseas freight, and the materials we source from both are FSC (Forest Stewardship Certification) approved, ensuring they are derived from well-managed forests and tracked throughout their manufacturing journey. Both suppliers also fully comply with the Timber and Timber Products Regulations (UKTR), which requires them to conduct all necessary due diligence on their supply chains, to ensure the materials they use have been legally sourced and traded.

One of our suppliers also utilises a Carbon Calculator, to inform every customer of the overall carbon footprint of their order, taking in manufacture, delivery of the product to the supplier’s warehouse, and storage, all the way up to the moment it leaves the supplier’s premises. This information allows us to easily understand the carbon impact of the Hexastrong panels we purchase, and assess the results accordingly.

Our supplier of WISA®-Multifloor panels, meanwhile, is based like us in West Yorkshire, again reducing freight emissions, and as with our Hexastrong supplier, is FSC (Forest Stewardship Certification) approved and fully complies with the Timber and Timber Products Regulations (UKTR).

Both our Hexastrong and Wisa®-Multifloor panels are covered by a 2-year warranty against material degradation.

Paint/Finishing

Although originating from our West Yorkshire factory, our equipment delivers fun across the country every day – and beneath the colourful surface, its fundamentals are high quality, durable, and sustainable.

When it comes to safeguarding our environment, however, we know the surface itself has a part to play, too. We utilise a range of different treatments and finishes, including galvanising, powder coating and zinc priming for mild steel, and anodising for aluminium. These processes provide the materials with the best chance of enduring heavy usage, whilst sealing the surface’s prime coating, and adding further durability through a UV stable colourfast finish.

The manner of application is also crucial with regards to sustainability. Our preferred method, electrostatic spraying, involves the use of a spray gun to powder coat the metal. This leads to an exceptionally even particle distribution when compared with traditional airless methods, which can result in significant overspray and insufficient coverage. The improved transfer then translates to reduced paint consumption, which in turn reduces waste, and saves on any cleaning agents required to remove excess.

Our UK-based supplier practices sustainable delivery methods, including utilising cardboard packaging in place of plastic, as well as biodegradable packing peanuts made from natural, nontoxic sources (such as wheat and corn starch) which can be used in compost piles after use. 

Our paint, anodising and galvanising are all covered by a 10-year warranty against significant corrosion due to faulty materials or finishing.

Rubber

With its inherent flexibility and array of bright colours, rubber is ideal for use in play equipment.

In our case, it is the main material used in many of our swing seats, whose design and production originally helped to make Sutcliffe Play a leading name in the playground market.

Rubber is derived from the sap of the rubber tree, which, when farmed responsibly, can be tapped for latex production over a period of many years before requiring replacement. Not only does this make the rubber itself a sustainable resource, it is also a great benefit for the wider ecosystem, as rubber trees have a significant capacity to absorb carbon dioxide.

Likewise, natural rubber is also extremely biodegradable, giving it a major advantage over plastic (which can take decades or even centuries to decompose); the higher the percentage of pure latex rubber in the compound, the faster it breaks down upon disposal.

Our north-west based supplier is a leading enterprise that operates a Sustainable Procurement Policy, which seeks to monitor and manage the business’s environmental impact, whilst ensuring social, environmental and economic factors are fully considered by employees and suppliers.

Our rubber is covered by a 2-year warranty against material degradation.

Aluminium

Sustainability and durability run through our equipment quite literally from top to bottom, as the supporting uprights on our popular Toddlerzone, Playzone, Neo and Mission ranges are constructed from high-quality, responsibly sourced aluminium.

Three of our four main aluminium suppliers are based locally in West Yorkshire, reducing freight emissions, and all seek to work within a sustainable supply chain, with one certified to the Environmental 14001 standard.

This highly durable material is the most recyclable metal in the world, and can be continually re-melted and refashioned into new products without losing its properties. This process also uses up to 95% less energy than the production of new aluminium from raw materials.

Its unique combination of versatile properties, including low weight, high strength, corrosion resistance and recyclability make it a perfect match for heavy usage playgrounds. Its hardened anodised finish is also maintenance free and requires no touch-up or finish during its life cycle, saving on wastage and the use of new top up materials.

Our aluminium is covered by a 25-year warranty against structural strength, and our anodising is covered by a 10-year warranty against significant corrosion due to faulty materials or finishing. 

Mild Steel

Mild steel is another essential material which is a perfect fit for our durable product range, used to create the supporting components of our multi play units, as well as rotators such as our inclusive dish roundabouts.

As with stainless steel, our supplier is an established enterprise in the local West Yorkshire area. Their mild steel includes an average of 76% recycled content, and is created from raw materials sourced from UK and Belgian foundries which are BES6001 certified. As of April 2023, their activity was estimated to produce 1.39 tonnes of carbon emissions per tonne of steel, well below one of the major estimated industry averages (1.85 tonnes), and on par with another (1.40).

This high-quality material is painted using a sustainable electrostatic process, and gains added protection through a UV stable colourfast finish. It has been proven to withstand not only the rigours of daily usage but the harshest of outdoor environments, including those with high salinity – this is well-evidenced by the fact that there has never been a customer claim against its structural guarantee.

Our mild steel is covered by a 25-year warranty against structural strength.

Stainless Steel

Another material that helps us to offer the most robust equipment on the market is stainless steel, used in the manufacture of our chute, bedway and bannister slides.

Our supplier is local, based like us in Yorkshire (reducing freight-based carbon emissions), and they utilise only materials from approved and highly reputable mills. They also work to ensure their supply chains are free from any unacceptable labour practices, are aligned to the UN 2040 Net Zero Target, and are beginning to roll out the use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil to replace diesel at all of their service centres, leading to a reduction in carbon emissions and nitrogen oxide.

The stainless steel in our products is maintenance free, easy clean, and suitable for all environments. It conforms to EN10088 specifications, and it is austenitic – making it stronger, more durable, and less electrically and thermally conductive than carbon steel, as well having a greater corrosion resistance. This durable, robust composition greatly extends the material’s lifespan, deferring waste creation (and steel is already the most recycled material used in manufacturing overall, so is far less likely to create waste at all).

Our stainless steel is covered by a 25-year warranty against structural strength.

HPL

HPL is a high-performance, external grade, self-supporting laminate utilised in versatile ways throughout our product range, such as the colourful panelling on many of our multi-play units.

The two key components in its creation are paper (technically called cellulose fibres) and thermosetting resin, with the former representing 60-70% of the finished material.

Our supplier is an Environmental Management Systems ISO 14001:2015 certified business, which holds both of the voluntary ‘Chain of Custody’ certifications according to FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) schemes. These certifications guarantee that the final product is made of material from well-managed, FSC or PEFC-Certified forests, and other controlled sources.

No organic solvents, asbestos or heavy metals are used during HPL’s production cycle, and it doesn’t release any gases, vapours, solvents or fluids. Its processing waste can be handled in a manner equivalent to household waste at controlled landfills, and it is estimated that 80% of the waste generated by our supplier is recovered.

Once created, HPL’s standout durability (it is fire-retardant, scratch and shock resistant, and non-porous) ensures that it will resist a great deal of wear and tear, and endure for long periods before requiring replacement.

Our HPL panels are covered by a 10-year warranty against non-structural failure due to faulty workmanship or materials.

HDPE

HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) is an extremely versatile thermoplastic polymer used in the freestanding play panels which feature in many of our play spaces, as well as for various components across our product range.

Offering an excellent strength-to-density ratio, and a very high impact resistance and melting point, products utilising HDPE are sure to enjoy a very long life.

The HDPE we purchase is sustainably sourced, and includes an average of 76% recycled content. Our supplier has also recycled 99% of their waste material and off-cuts since the formation of their business, and offers HDPE recycling services to customers for products which are no longer required.

Unlike natural, porous materials such as wood (which can feature fissures or grooves that harbour moisture or bacteria) HDPE resists mould and rotting as well as most strong mineral acids and naturally occurring chemicals. HDPE is also easily recyclable, helping to keep non-biodegradable waste out of landfill. 

Our freestanding play panels are also accompanied by a selection of sustainably sourced supporting posts, including recycled plastic, galvanised metal, and timber. As with HDPE, these enjoy a far longer lifespan due to their environmental resistance (with none of the rotting, cracking, or splitting that may come with traditional timber posts), and they also help to reduce non-biodegradable landfill waste.

Our HDPE is covered by a 10-year warranty against non-structural failure due to faulty workmanship or materials.

Glulam

Our Treetops multi-play equipment is well-known for its naturalistic aesthetic, with striking wooden support beams bringing an eye-catching look to the entire range.

These are constructed from Glued Laminated (Glulam) Larch, a structurally engineered wood comprised of layers of dimensioned lumber, bonded together with durable, moisture-resistant structural adhesives.

Our well-established supplier of Glulam is based very locally to our factory in West Yorkshire, reducing freight emissions – and as with all of our materials, Glulam’s great durability minimises waste and the need for replacement in the long term. Its design delivers greater dimensional stability than that of whole log sections, with no shakes, twisting or warping, and all Glulam beams within the Treetops range have an oblique cut top to prevent water ingress, as well as galvanized steel shoes to protect the base of each post from the elements.

As well as having no known negative environmental effects, repairability of Glulam is high, and once it reaches the end of its natural life, it can be repurposed as an excellent biofuel.

Our Glulam is covered by a 10-year warranty against structural strength.

Timber

Timber is an essential material in our work, used primarily in our naturalistic Orchard range – and we strive to ensure not only that it is sustainably sourced, but smartly applied to ensure maximum longevity.

Our FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified supplier handles slow grown pine logs derived from strictly controlled sources, either through government body approved felling licences or forest/woodland management plans. They also encourage the recycling of their products during manufacturing, with all wastage repurposed – including in a local biomass plant that produces electricity and heat.

The timber we purchase for use in our Orchard posts has been pressure treated against wet rot, dry rot and insect infestation, carried out after it has been cut and drilled (ensuring the coverage of all exposed timber). It has also been preservative pressure-treated with high-quality Tanalith 9000, which is proven at providing unrivalled protection.

A UK-sourced aluminium protective shoe maintains the timber above ground level, protecting the base of each post throughout its lifetime, and side ventilation holes allow the posts to breathe and stay dry. At the other end, a special rubber cap completely seals the post top, preventing moisture from entering the top grain.

Our Timber is covered by a 10-year warranty against structural strength.