The Abbey Gardens is a hugely important green space in the centre of Bury St Edmunds. The current play area nestles between the dramatic ruins of the medieval abbey and a straight run of the River Lark. The gardens are visited by over a million people every year, a large percentage of those visitors are children.
The current play facilities within the gardens do not reflect the special features and unique nature that the Abbey Gardens offer. The beautiful and historic setting offers huge potential to develop a groundbreaking modern approach to children's play within the borough benefiting both local children and visitors.
The new approaches to children's play within the gardens have been worked on for the past two years to make sure they reflect the requirements of all users and stakeholders of the gardens. The design concept for the play area harmonises play with the natural and historic setting creating new and exciting play opportunities that will undoubtedly challenge, inspire and excite whoever visits the play facilities. The design plan (PDF 213Kb) is now complete.
The main features of the new facility are:
- Canopied structure and marker posts: This wooden sheltered area provides an ideal seating area and undercover space for play. Additional natural materials have been added to the area to enhance playability.
- Willow maze area: Existing refurbished play equipment nestles within a living willow structure.
- Sand and water: An amazing area enhanced by pumps, wells and pools using sand and water.
- Riverside area: A log wall boundary highlights the new riverbank area which includes a means by which children can cross the river.
- Willow coppice doors and foxholes: A network of willow archways, rope hoops and moveable small timber posts provide an ever changeable play space is punctuated with a tunnel and sunken 'hidey' holes.
- Woodland area and tree houses: A new tree house has been constructed in an existing tree, incorporating a staircase, rope bridge and possible swing.
Owing to the play areas location and designation of the site, as a scheduled ancient monument site, the scheme has required the consent and support of:
- English Heritage
- Environment Agency
- Cathedral Chapter
- Secretary of State
- Local Planning Authority
See press release dated 15 March 2011.
For further details about this exciting initiative please contact the Parks department:
West Suffolk House
Western Way
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk
IP33 3YU
Phone: 01284 757088
Fax: 01284 757066
Email: parks@stedsbc.gov.uk
