Background History

The Play area was the brainchild of FOSNEC founder Ann Williams. As a grandmother of a special needs child, she realised that play equipment was not normally suitable for disabled children or tended to be unattractive to able-bodied youngsters. The ideal was to provide play equipment suitable for all children, where they can play together and grow up with a better understanding of each other.

This follows on from the Fair Play campaign. The Herald Express, with Ann Williams, led the Fair Play campaign for a change in the law on play areas to ensure disabled children can use them alongside their able-bodied friends and siblings.

Cockington Court was the area chosen for the innovative Play Area. With Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust and FOSNEC working together Ann's brainchild finally became a reality on Friday 2 July this year. FOSNEC's tireless fundraising efforts came to fruition.


Play equipment and how it works

Wheelchair seesaw - It does exactly what it says.

It is made so wheelchair users can get a similar effect to that of a See-saw.
 
The see-saw motion is generated by driving to and fro or through corresponding body movement while walking. The mutual action, the stimulation of playing together and the requirement for co-operation are the valuable elements of this equipment.
 
Wheelchair users and the able-bodied, big ones and little ones, the heavy and the light and the old and young can play together.

Able bodied children have discovered the ‘bounce' element to this piece of equipment!!


Turning Stone (Nicknamed a giant dinosaur egg)

A huge turning stone that spins slowly on a steel rod axis.

This tactile equipment fascinates children young and old who are able to turn several tonnes of stone with their own strength (apparently supposed to be able to turn it with your little finger!!)

Spinning Plate

This rotating plate is profiled to allow wheelchair access but is popular with able – bodied children.


Basket Swing

The basket swing has proved to be very popular with disabled and able-bodied children alike. It is suitable for one child to use or many in one go.


The water Fountain

The Water Fountain is a water play feature where the water jet intensity depends on the activity of the participants. “Geysers” with a height of up to 8m can be produced by 2 children energetically see-sawing the pump.

The see-saw pump can be operated by hand or by standing on it. The water then flows through a series of channels and a water wheel before draining away.

Slide and Tower Structure

This equipment is accessible to wheelchair users and contains a wide slide, which will allow 2 children or a carer and a child to slide together. There is also a bench by the slide to assist wheelchair users in accessing the slide with the maximum of independence.

Three items of sensory equipment: a turning circle that shows sand flow; an outdoor kaleidoscope; and an integrated xylophone - are included in the hexagonal tower structure, attached to the slide by a ramp.

Sound Boxes

Solar powered, interactive sound boxes that detect movement and play bird noises.

Colin Leslie of Gemini FM displaying sound box (these were funded by Gemini FM)

Please email the trust with your comments/feedback on play area.

Email: info@countryside-trust.org.uk