Lafarge granite boulders bring adventure to children's playground

CHILDREN in a Leicestershire village are clambering over granite rocks from Lafarge's Mountsorrel quarry as part of a brand new dynamic approach to play.

The huge rocks form part of the Playbuilder Scheme at Fowke Street Playing Field, Rothley, a £50,000 project to encourage active and energetic play.

Rothley parish councillors, Olwen Jones and Shona Greenwood-Brown submitted the Playbuilder funding bid and have been delighted with the outcome.

Olwen said:

"The idea was to create a play area for eight to 13 year-olds which would really challenge the traditional concept of play, embrace social cohesion and offer opportunities for both the able bodied and those less mobile or sensory impaired.
"We already had provision for the under eights and teenagers but for the children inbetween there was really only the swings which were 40 years old and a bit tired.
"So we went to primary schools and local youth groups and we were very much influenced by that consultation.
"Now we have items such as granite boulders for the children to climb or sit on, a scramble net, monkey bars, a 4m slide, vertical railway sleepers and a large bird's nest swing."

Olwen said the youngsters had given the equipment a big thumbs-up and the area was fast becoming a firm favourite with families and groups of friends.

Angus Shedden, operations manager at Mountsorrel, said:

"It's great to think rocks from our quarry are providing local children with the chance to have fun and enjoy being active outdoors."

The play project is one of a number completed under the former Labour Government's £235m Playbuilder scheme to build or refurbish play areas across the country.

Under the new Coalition Government the scheme has fallen victim to public spending cuts but initiatives, such as Rothley's, which were already under construction escaped the axe.

Now children are enjoying their new adventure playground and finding a fresh appreciation to being active outdoors.
Olwen added:
"It's about getting children outside and moving and doing interesting things which will challenge them, which will push them physically and make them think about play but all in a fun way."

The area has been totally transformed with the equipment and landscaping with paths, planting, stepping stones and tree circles.

Olwen said:

"We hope the play area will bring pleasure to children in Rothley for many years to come."