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Play Fair 2008 is an exciting new live event for everyone involved in the selection, design and installation of children’s outdoor play, sport and amenity equipment
 It’s a first in the UK; an amazing adventure playground for the body, mind and senses will showcase an older children’s area, woodland play, themed play, toddlers’ play, soundtrack, wild garden, scented circle, storyteller’s garden and a half-pipe skateboard area.
This adventure playground’s design aims to encourage children’s physical activity, give mental stimulation and education causing children to explore the natural cycle of nature among planted areas. Designer, Mel Nichols said: “We designed the adventure play area to present adventure play for the mind, the body and the senses. It will also reflect the importance of nature and culture to the developing child.”
That is what visitors to Play Fair 2008 will see on 15-16 July at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire. Play Fair 2008 is a new free play and sports equipment exhibition, designed to interest buyers, specifiers, sport, leisure and play workers from the public sector, local government, schools and education, landscape design and the commercial sector. This highly focused, two-day event has free seminars, organised by the API and Play England. It will be packed with displays, demonstrations, trade stands - and a large adventure playground feature.
For the first time trade bodies are joining forces to create an event such as Play Fair; the Federation of Sports and Play Associations and two of its trade associations; the Association of Play Industries (API) and the Sports and Fitness Equipment Association (SAFEA). Each exhibitor will be a member of at least one organisation. For visitors, that ensures all exhibitors meet stringent membership criteria, which mirror many local government pre-qualification requirements.
Visitors will be able to see everything in one place on one day. The concentration of sports, play and leisure equipment in this dedicated event offers decision makers an effective way to keep up to date and assess their requirements. An excellent range of free seminars will further educate on the latest in best practice in equipping sport, play and leisure areas.
An adventure playground
This showcased adventure playground will help schools, local authorities and play providers develop ‘outdoors’, outdoor classrooms and adventure play for 8-12 year olds. To do that it offers physical challenge and interest for ‘tweenagers’ from some of the best equipment available on the market today but also goes further and offers sensory and educational stimulation.
Children’s play experiences include: Sensory stimulation and activity from a sound track with musical instruments and a scented circle and planted areas; role play to inspire children’s imaginations in the themed area; sand play to encourage creativity, experimentation, co-operation; quiet in a storytellers garden where children sit and let their imaginations travel far and wide; nature in a sensory garden with wild flowers and beehives; sport represented by a skateboarders’ half-pipe.
Visitors will see each as a module carefully designed and ‘woven’ into a complete adventure playground to give ideas and inspiration to buyers and everyone passionate about children’s play.
Playground features
The Older children's zone offers physical play, risk and the opportunity to show off new skills as children grow and develop. Woodland Play is an area close to an embankment next to mature trees offering an area for free play in the shade.
Themed Play for role-play is where the sand ship ‘Nina’ lands. It is surrounded by sand, tree palms and linked to the jungle drums area as it sails into desert island bay. “Ahoy there! Shipmates.” The Nina lands on the beach – a large sandpit with sand and water tables close by in a small cove - where children can experiment and build castles. Ships are unbelievably compelling for children, when united with sand play, their enthusiasm knows no bounds. There’s more, themed play, which continues with a horse and cart - a belt trampoline.
Toddlers’ Play has a castle and slide to continue the themed play area around the Nina and the jungle drums. A mini challenger says, “Test your skills. See if you can,” to the youngest children.
Soundtrack - A path through the trees at the top of an embankment forms a discovery soundtrack with different kinds of sound play along the route. Try the kalimba, marimba, metallophone, rain wheel and amadinda and step along the track to the jungle drums zone and palm pipes.
The Wild Garden is a created habitat with a wild flower mix sown in grass with beehives.
In the Scented Circle a raised planter with plants and herbs chosen for scent, texture shape and colour has a stone compass sculpture to help explore a sensory world.
Storytellers Garden has log stools and storytellers chair all arranged so children to sit on the embankment while they listen and imagine … everything!
A half-pipe makes a skateboard area with exhibition riders and spectators who can watch the highly skilled and energy burning fitness stunts.
Exhibition visitors and local school children will be encouraged to have-a-go and enjoy the fun.
For those who cannot get there, a free copy of the new API Directory 2008/9 is available at: www.api-play.org
The Association of Play Industries
The Association of Play Industries (API) is the lead trade body in the play sector. With over 70 members it represents the interests of manufacturers, installers, designers and distributors of both outdoor and indoor play equipment and safer surfacing.
Founded in 1984 the API represents approximately 85 per cent of the annual UK market demand of over c. £180 Million.
Play England
Play England promotes strategies for free play and aims to create a lasting support structure for play providers in England. It is a key element of the Children's Play Initiative of the Big Lottery Fund.
Play England's aim is for all children and young people in England to have regular access and opportunity for free, inclusive, local play provision and play space. It offers expert advice and support to all those involved in the strategic development of children's play.
The Federation of Sports and Play Associations (FSPA) is the national trade body representing the UK ’s sports and play industries.
Member companies include manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, sales agents, retailers and operators of sports and play goods and services whom act collectively to promote, develop and protect their industry.
The Federation provides member companies with a comprehensive range of business support services to the industry, as well as individual association benefits.
SAFEA
The Sports and Fitness Equipment Association (SAFEA) is the lead trade association for companies engaged in the supply and installation of sports hall, games, fitness and gymnasium equipment.
SAFEA members are dedicated to offering quality in both products and service offering buyers great peace of mind. All products adhere to the relevant safety and manufacturing standards.
For more information
For more information and to register visit www.playfairuk.com
Opening times:
Tuesday 15 July: 9.30am – 5.00pm
Wednesday 16 July: 9.30am – 4.30pm
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