The North Warwickshire village of Fillongley is an idyllic rural spot nestled in the heart of England – so central in fact, that it is further from the coast than any other settlement in the whole of Britain! The village is also home to a small and close-knit community, and its playground has always been well-utilised by local families. By early 2025, however, it required a thorough refresh – and we were thrilled to collaborate with Fillongley Parish Council to make it happen.
Prior to beginning our work, we were heartened to learn that local schoolchildren had been consulted on which provider’s equipment they would prefer to see installed, and ours had been selected. This was a fantastic vote of confidence from the people who would most benefit from the new space, and we carried this positivity with us throughout the project.
Planning For Play
We began by undertaking a thorough site survey, before finalising a design which met every aspect of our client’s vision. While the existing play area had been geared primarily towards younger children of toddler age, our design incorporated many junior-appropriate items to challenge the capabilities of older children, which would be integrated alongside the existing equipment. We also planned to relocate a selection of the site’s existing gym equipment a little further afield, thereby freeing up more space in the playground.
An early challenge presented itself during the design stage, which we worked hard to overcome. We were informed that our original plans needed to be reworked to reflect a sudden change in our client’s budget, and our team worked constructively with the council to achieve this, most notably by altering the surfacing from rubber mulch to the slightly cheaper option of grassmat (alongside various smaller changes). We subsequently met the new fiscal constraints, and kept the work on track.
During the entirety of the installation process, meanwhile, we provided regular updates to the community with a new progress page on our website, easily accessible from a QR code displayed on the site’s fencing. This page gave us a welcome opportunity to explain the work we were doing, as we rejuvenated Fillongley Park with a vibrant infusion of exciting equipment:
Fun For All!
The centrepiece of the new space is our imposing Foxfire climbing frame. Designed around a small circular traverse, the unit is a part of our junior-focused Mission range, and features 12 exhilarating play features which test the physical capabilities of up to 22 children – including climbing, sliding and balancing activities.
Other staple play experiences are also well-represented: our Sling Rotator includes a rope swing for children to sit or stand on, as well as overhead handles which can be used to spin the entire top of the unit, while our colourful Whirlybob Roundabout brings more conventional spinning fun for up to 4 children aged 2 to 8.
Nearby, our Pivot Seesaw delivers a perfectly balanced co-operative experience, incorporating a simple pivot point in the centre of its double steel top bar, and a HPL seat at each end with a moulded hand grip for added comfort and security.
Finally, every child knows that the swings are an essential part of any playground, and our 2.4m multi-bay Modular Swing frame offers a multitude of exciting options in this regard, including: an Inclusive Seat which provides extra physical support for users with increased mobility requirements, two of our brightly coloured, body-hugging Pod Seats (ensuring greater comfort than a traditional cradle-type seat), two of our simple Flat Seats for a more traditional experience, and a multi-user Turtle Shell Seat, with an inclusive and open design.
Exceeding Expectations
Our work has transformed Fillongley Park, greatly enhancing its play offering and expanding its appeal to junior children. This achievement was on full display in June 2025, when we were excited to join a group of young visitors at an open day to commemorate the new playground, and celebrate all of the fun and thrills it will bring to this community in the years to come.
Heather Badham, Clerk to Fillongley Parish Council, said:
‘The experience of working with Sutcliffe Play was brilliant – they were helpful before, during, and after the project, and I appreciated all that they did. The community likes everything about the new play area, and when I last visited, I was amazed with how many kids were there. The response on social media when we first installed was very positive.
The community are using the park much more than before. It has definitely given a positive vibe, showing that the Parish Council are looking after the young people in the village and care about the community.
In the future, I will certainly be asking for Sutcliffe Play’s help with our next set of new kit!’