New term, new equipment

04/09/23

After the summer holidays, it’s time to turn your mind to school term once again. For our children and young people, the summer holidays will have been a time where they have spent a lot of time outdoors. The weather hasn’t been fantastic this year, with summer largely failing to show up. But rain or shine, outdoor activity and fresh air are vital ingredients for happy, healthy minds. And with the start of a new term and a new school year, there’s no better time to think about your activity kit. Are you getting the best out of what you’ve got – or would it be a great opportunity to update your play equipment?

A fresh start

If you already have an array of play and activity equipment, it might be time to look at if you are getting the best out of it. Maintenance is an important aspect of keeping activity equipment at its best. You wouldn’t think of letting your car or house fall into disrepair, and the same should be true of your activity and play equipment. There are a number of reasons why you should make sure they are performing at their best. Good maintenance means you’ll increase the longevity of your equipment. It will also ensure that anyone who uses it will be safe, as over time wear and tear will eventually lead to operational and safety issues. As a result, it’s important that you inspect your activity equipment regularly – if you are unsure about what you should be looking for in terms of safety checks, then ask one of our experts to come out and give their opinion. It’s a good way of checking everything is in good order and also assures you peace of mind.

An interesting dilemma

If you think you may need to upgrade or replace what you have, then you have an interesting dilemma. Do you replace like-for-like, or use the opportunity to go for something different? Your budget is obviously a factor here, but sometimes it’s best to spend a bit more now and reap the savings and benefits later on. It’s best to maximise your budget, to get the best out the space you have available. Inviting one of our experts over to inspect your site will give you a good idea of the options open to you. It may be the case that you can get more out of your space by reconfiguring the layout or altogether starting from scratch.

Out with the old

New equipment and activities are being developed all the time, so it’s worth taking a look at our website to see what’s available. Your old equipment might be a little outmoded now and the newer items such as our music panels and fitness equipment that can make you feel as though you’re ‘working out’ outdoors. Our website has details of our full range of products, from early years activities to MUGAs (Multi-use Game Areas) and Trim Trails, featuring such equipment as Hanging rope crossings and Balance walks. These products can be integrated or combined to create really exciting, stimulating spaces, that children and young people can find rewarding. There are so many opportunities for learning through play these days – it’s not simply a case of outdoor activities just to be physically active.

It’s essential that we make their time spent in these activity spaces are as rewarding and beneficial as possible. But whatever your decide to do – renew or upgrade – the most important things to remember are to make sure your children and young people stay safe, while exercising and learning out in the fresh air.