Sustainable playgrounds for schools

Made from sustainably forested domestic timber and reclaimed materials, our climate positive playgrounds delight children while instilling eco-conscious values – a step towards a livelier, safer, and more sustainable world.

Our Rubber Playgrounds combine sustainability with endless opportunities for self-organised, imaginative play. Made from stretchy, bouncy, repurposed rubber, the hanging vines and spider-web nets enable dynamic and adventurous play in a hazard-free environment. 

“It exceeded our expectations, you provided a brilliant service from start to finish. Seeing the finished result at the end was absolutely brilliant!

- Amy, Wish Granter

Designed with schools in mind

The Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) Programme conducted research into the impact of different types of play on children and found:

The intrinsic value of playtime stems from children’s enjoyment of self-organised play.

Children need opportunities for greater engagement in a range of movements and moderate to vigorous physical activities. 

Award-winning Playgrounds

Our first school client who commissioned the Rubber Playground has been awarded a Platinum OPAL award for play. The flexibility, durability and versatility of the rubber structures foster children’s limitless creativity and opportunities to challenge themselves. These opportunities and skills are linked to improved behaviour (during playtime and after) improved wellbeing and skill development. Furthermore, the sustainable nature of the playground provides opportunities to educate children on the Circular Economy (see the FAQs below).

Risk taking… safely

We understand schools and parents want to feel confident that kids can challenge themselves in a safe environment. All our playgrounds are guaranteed to pass the required safety inspection by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA).

Root and Shoot playground case study from Alfred Salter Primary school in SE London, showing the co-design with the school children, testimonials from the Head Teacher and the ReCycled bicycle tyre bouncy playground in action

We have conducted extensive research and development to ensure materials are repurposed into safe, clean and robust playspaces that are challenging, dynamic and fit for years of climbing and rough-play outdoors. The schools we have worked with give us consitently wonderful feedback, and the amount of use the kid designers give them is a wonderful testament to their success.

Truly sustainable

The world is awash with products labelled ‘sustainable’ that are anything but. In our case, we mean it, and are happy to show our work!

We collect our raw materials from local bike shops using pedal power - re-valued bicycle tyres, diverting landfill - which we clean, remove the steel bead (which we use to make cables for our swings) and weave them together to create the bouncy vines for the 100% sustainable playgrounds. Due to the nature of the high-tech rubber in bicycle tyres, the playground is ready for years of service. It can also be adapted and installed and uninstalled easily. This means as well as permanent installations, they’re also a great option for providing extra play opportunities in temporary spaces.

Custom design for your space

Design drawing of recycled rubber playground

Your playground is designed to perfectly meet the specification and needs of your space. In this way, no two playgrounds are the same. There’s also the opportunity to change the design of your playground regularly to keep things interesting.

The Rubber Playground combines a novel material with a unique design. The rubber from the bike tyres we use, is cleaned, tough and has the following amazing properties, making it the perfect material for playgrounds:

  • Water resistant - perfect for the UK climate

  • UV-stable - built to last outside

  • Flexible, stretchy and bendy - that dynamic element

  • Abundant - limitless supply from local bike workshops

  • Sustainable - diverting a waste stream from landfill

  • Strength - years of service

Photo of the rubber playground made from ropes made from bicycle tyres strung between trees

Creating your playground

How to get your own recycled playground designed, fabricated and installed

Recycled rubber playground with smiling kids

 FAQs

Recycled playground sign with hoopla made from reclaimed bicycles
Child playing and dangling from the rubber vines of the playground
Children playing on the recycled rubber playground

Fun guarantee

We provide a 12-month guarantee on workmanship and a regular check in service. We also love to visit our builds and see how they are used over time, what the most enjoyed parts are and anywhere to improve, so we build a relationship with our clients that goes beyond delivery of the finished project, to ensure your playspace is highly used and valued for years to come.