Willow Park, Wigston

Client: Oadby and Wigston Borough Council

Cost: £75,000

Date: February 2026

Genre: Inclusive

At Sutcliffe Play, we believe passionately in the power of play to transform the lives and life chances of every child, particularly those living with disabilities. We relish any chance to put this principle into practice, an opportunity which arose in late 2025 in the small town of Wigston, south Leicestershire. At the town’s heart sits Willow Park, a popular community destination, but with a play area which no longer met modern expectations in terms of play value and inclusivity. We were delighted to collaborate with Oadby & Wigston Borough Council to address this situation, for the lasting benefit of the whole community.

The council wished to see the site comprehensively refreshed, and transformed into a fully inclusive recreational space where children of all abilities, including those with special educational needs, additional sensory requirements and mobility challenges could flourish; we worked hard to produce a design that reflected every element of this ambitious vision.

Planning For Play

Our wide-ranging proposals included the removal of all obsolete equipment, as well as the refurbishment and relocation of many existing items. This included repainting the two existing benches (as well as adding a third), and repositioning one of them to create excellent supervision lines for parents, as well as renewing pedestrian gates and signage; in turn, ample space would be freed up for an infusion of innovative, inclusive equipment. Crucially, these additions would be integrated across the entirety of the space rather than relegated to a single spot, ensuring that side-by-side play experiences between children of varying abilities would quickly become the norm.

However, our focus on inclusivity extended far beyond simply adding new equipment. New Playtop with Nike Grind surfacing would be introduced in most areas, a tried and tested material made from a sustainable mix of recycled Nike Rubber Trainers and top course rubber – this would offer a much more even surface for all visitors, including those with wheelchairs, prams or pushchairs. The surface would also be adorned with a variety of engaging floor graphics, including Snakes & Ladders, Hopscotch, A-Z Flowers and more, while bright colour-contrasting borders would surround some of the new wheelchair accessible items, offering much greater clarity for visually impaired visitors.

Other key considerations included the avoidance of enclosed units, in order to ensure full visibility at all times for parents and carers, and an intuitive, carefully considered progression of challenge throughout the space, allowing children to build confidence at their own pace while moving seamlessly from less strenuous toddler activities through to more challenging junior-focused experiences. Carefully planned access routes and wide circulation zones around all of the equipment would increase accessibility still further.

Fun For All

After a successful installation process, which was completed on time and to a very high standard, Willow Park is today unrecognisable from its former self, revitalised from a formerly tired space into a welcoming modern playground which offers huge play value for all:

Our Pocket Park multiplay unit is the biggest new entry, a dynamic play centre with a huge range of inclusive play features for up to 24 children of every ability level. The unit’s exterior play panels, including an Abacus, a Shop and Counter, and a ‘tinging’ Flower Bells panel, can all be used by wheelchair users at ground level or very slightly higher, as can our popular Communications Panel, which displays a grid of colourful symbols that children can point at to interact with friends or peers – offering great utility for those who struggle with verbal communication.

The unit’s interior includes two large decks at 0.3m and 1.2m high, providing a combined 2.8m² of floorspace which affords young adventurers ample room to play together freely with a variety of engaging features including a Convex Distorting Mirror, a Braille Panel, and a two-in-one Window/Binocular panel. The lower of these decks can be accessed from an expansive boardwalk-style ramp, providing a perfect pathway for children in wheelchairs or buggies, and once inside, a 1.2m high slide offers a thrilling route back to ground level.

This centrepiece unit is surrounded by a number of very accessible standalone pieces. Our Inclusive Skate Wheelchair Roundabout brings big spinning fun for children with limited mobility, with a fully inground design and non-slip decks which allow it to accommodate a centrally positioned wheelchair. Its added supportive seating also means children can spin independently or alongside their peers, ensuring that wheelchair users are fully active participants in group play, boosting their confidence and sense of independence. Close by, a Wheelchair Accessible Trampoline enables children using wheelchairs to bounce safely and confidently, and like the roundabout, its design also sits flush with the ground, ensuring a seamless roll on/roll-off experience.

Another topline addition is our ‘Bugs Life’ themed Group Inclusive Seesaw, which can seat up to 6 children and features a cutaway panel on one end, enabling easy side transfer for less mobile users. Its large central platform can also be used as seating, or as a safe meeting point for groups of children or teens (often older girls, in many of our previous installations) helping to inspire much stronger social bonds amongst visitors. Nearby, our Nature Activity Centre provides an ideal aesthetic accompaniment to the centrepiece Pocket Park, and features a single post with 8 activity zones and 12 outdoor-related play elements which encourage users’ role play and storytelling skills. Like so many other new additions at Willow Park, this unit’s ground level design ensures children in wheelchairs or pushchairs can still join in the fun.

Elsewhere, our colourful Gnome Inclusive Springie delivers rocking fun for a single child, with one of its panels displaying a charming gnome character, and the other utilising a unique cutaway shape for side transfer. Alongside it, a number of ground-level panels, including Dice Daisy, Rock Paper Scissors, and a dedicated Sensory panel, all offer engaging, multisensory play and games for single or multiple users, and the Dice Daisy’s symbols interact directly with a number of the thermoplastic floor graphics in innovative ways.

Finally, the existing swing frames have been upgraded with a selection of new seats, including two of our colourful Pod seats, which hug younger children as they swing, a Large Flat Seat, which offers a more conventional swinging experience for slightly older children, and one of our specially designed Inclusive Seats, for children with increased accessibility requirements. Most importantly, the close proximity between the latter two seats invites children with differing abilities to play side-by-side, encouraging social interaction and reducing the risk of segregation.

Exceeding Expectations

Soon after the new space’s opening, a local mum named Louisa and her daughter Anna, who lives with severe disabilities, visited the park to try out the new equipment. Louisa and Anna had been the council’s primary consultees during the design process, and we were delighted to see that our work more than lived up to their expectations.

Louisa said: ‘The new play area is amazing and we felt very included. Anna could access it like all the other children, and we were not just stood there watching them play. As well as benefitting children like Anna, it’s also making a point to other families that play should be for everyone, regardless of additional needs. The park has opened up our world so much – thank you!’

Margaret Kind, Corporate Project Officer for Oadby and Wigston Borough Council said: “Working with Sutcliffe Play has been a very positive experience. From the moment the contract was awarded, the team worked closely with us to refine the design and ensure the final layout was as appealing and inclusive as possible. The transformation of the area has been remarkable. What was once a tired and uninspiring space has become a vibrant, imaginative environment where children can play together, explore, and express their creativity. The community has embraced the new facilities, and it’s clear that the improvements have made a real difference to local families.”

This landmark project challenged us to replace an out-of-date playground with a vibrant, future-facing space that the entire community would love to return to. The result is a leading model for inclusive play: a joyful and intuitive community destination where diversity, equity, and togetherness are fundamental, and where families and children who may once have struggled to enjoy traditional play spaces aren’t simply afforded access, but are warmly welcomed as active participants. This is a precious legacy for Willow Park, and one that we were immensely proud to help create.

Playground Equipment:

Pocket Park

Pocket Park

Inclusive Skate Wheelchair Roundabout

Inclusive Skate Wheelchair Roundabout

Group Inclusive Seesaw

Group Inclusive Seesaw

Nature Activity Centre

Nature Activity Centre

Gnome Inclusive Springie

Gnome Inclusive Springie

Dice Daisy

Dice Daisy

Rock Paper Scissors Panel

Rock Paper Scissors Panel

Pod Seat

Pod Seat

Large Flat Seat

Large Flat Seat Black

Inclusive Seat

Inclusive Seat

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LLDPE

LLDPE (Linear Low-Density Polyethylene) is a thermoplastic polymer used to manufacture some of the slides used on our multi-play units. It is also the main component in the Turtle Shell swing seats we supply.

LLDPE is ideal for use in playground equipment, as it can be moulded into large shapes and complicated profiles; these can then be compounded in a wide range of opaque colours, or a translucent finish when not pigmented.

In addition, with a more linear polymer chain structure than regular LDPE, LLDPE enjoys a higher puncture and impact resistance, as well as greater tensile strength (making it much less likely to fracture or deform). This means it is extremely resilient in the face of chemicals and moisture – a vital attribute for play equipment which stands outdoors in inclement weather. Conversely, it can also withstand temperatures of up to 80°C, which proves highly relevant in countries or regions with hot climates.

In terms of sustainability, LLDPE is 100% recyclable, and when recycled, it typically retains most of the mechanical properties of its virgin material. Our own supplier of LLDPE is a respected European enterprise, which sources its components from an ISO 9001:2015 accredited company.

Our LLDPE is covered by a 5-year warranty against structural failure due to material or production defects.

Rope

Durable steel-cored rope is a hugely versatile material, which offers great utility as part of more challenging equipment, such as our climbing and balancing focused Mission and Neo ranges, whilst also being used to create the colour contrasting scramble nets found on a number of our inclusive-focused units.

The rope’s steel core offers great durability, allowing it to endure heavy sustained usage for long periods without requiring replacement. Not only does this minimise wastage, but at the point that replacement finally does become necessary, its environmental impact is mitigated by the fact that steel is one of the world’s most recyclable metals.

Prior to this, however, sustainability is also a key consideration for us during the initial stages of our equipment’s development. This is why we seek to deal with responsible suppliers at all times, and participate in a sustainable supply chain with environmental consideration at its heart.

Both of our wholesale suppliers of steel-cored rope hold all of the relevant credentials to operate in a modern, climate conscious marketplace, and both source their rope from a respected third-party enterprise which holds the ISO 14001. This internationally recognized standard demonstrates their commitment to minimizing their environmental impact, and continuously improving their performance in this area.

Our nets and ropes are covered by a 5-year warranty against non-structural failure due to faulty workmanship or materials.

Anti-Slip Surfacing

Many of our products, especially our multi-play units, are designed to enable fast, thrilling, kinetic play for all ages and abilities. This is why durable, hard-wearing anti-slip surfacing is another key material used in our factory, to deliver the safest, highest quality playing experience for children.

The two most commonly used materials in this regard are Hexastrong panels and WISA®-Multifloor panels. The former is found primarily on the walking decks and steps on many of our multi-play units, including in our MiniTown, Toddlerzone and Playzone ranges. With their hard-wearing nature and excellent strength to weight ratio, these panels are ideally suited for use on playground equipment, and as they are produced primarily from timber, they can be considered a renewable resource.

Durable WISA®-Multifloor panels are also utilised most prominently in our Toddlerzone and Playzone ranges. Constructed from birch veneers bonded together with weather-resistant glue and coated with an elastic overlay, they deliver a strong, safe surface on walking decks and steps, upon which children can play freely.

As with all materials involved in the manufacture of our products, we work hard to ensure we deal with responsible suppliers at every stage, and participate in a sustainable supply chain with environmental consideration at its heart:

Both of our Hexastrong suppliers are UK-based, reducing emissions from overseas freight, and the materials we source from both are FSC (Forest Stewardship Certification) approved, ensuring they are derived from well-managed forests and tracked throughout their manufacturing journey. Both suppliers also fully comply with the Timber and Timber Products Regulations (UKTR), which requires them to conduct all necessary due diligence on their supply chains, to ensure the materials they use have been legally sourced and traded.

One of our suppliers also utilises a Carbon Calculator, to inform every customer of the overall carbon footprint of their order, taking in manufacture, delivery of the product to the supplier’s warehouse, and storage, all the way up to the moment it leaves the supplier’s premises. This information allows us to easily understand the carbon impact of the Hexastrong panels we purchase, and assess the results accordingly.

Our supplier of WISA®-Multifloor panels, meanwhile, is based like us in West Yorkshire, again reducing freight emissions, and as with our Hexastrong supplier, is FSC (Forest Stewardship Certification) approved and fully complies with the Timber and Timber Products Regulations (UKTR).

Both our Hexastrong and Wisa®-Multifloor panels are covered by a 5-year warranty against material degradation.

Paint/Finishing

Although originating from our West Yorkshire factory, our equipment delivers fun across the country every day – and beneath the colourful surface, its fundamentals are high quality, durable, and sustainable.

When it comes to safeguarding our environment, however, we know the surface itself has a part to play, too. We utilise a range of different treatments and finishes, including galvanising, powder coating and zinc priming. These processes provide the materials with the best chance of enduring heavy usage, whilst sealing the surface’s prime coating, and adding further durability through a UV stable colourfast finish.

The manner of application is also crucial with regards to sustainability. Our preferred method, electrostatic spraying, involves the use of a spray gun to powder coat the metal. This leads to an exceptionally even particle distribution when compared with traditional airless methods, which can result in significant overspray and insufficient coverage. The improved transfer then translates to reduced paint consumption, which in turn reduces waste, and saves on any cleaning agents required to remove excess.

Our UK-based supplier practices sustainable delivery methods, including utilising cardboard packaging in place of plastic, as well as biodegradable packing made from natural, nontoxic sources (such as wheat and corn starch) which can be used in compost piles after use.

Our paint and galvanising are both covered by a 7-year warranty against significant corrosion due to faulty materials or finishing.

Rubber

With its inherent flexibility and array of bright colours, rubber is ideal for use in play equipment.

In our case, it is the main material used in many of our swing seats, whose design and production originally helped to make Sutcliffe Play a leading name in the playground market.

Rubber is derived from the sap of the rubber tree, which, when farmed responsibly, can be tapped for latex production over a period of many years before requiring replacement. Not only does this make the rubber itself a sustainable resource, it is also a great benefit for the wider ecosystem, as rubber trees have a significant capacity to absorb carbon dioxide.

Likewise, natural rubber is also extremely biodegradable, giving it a major advantage over plastic (which can take decades or even centuries to decompose); the higher the percentage of pure latex rubber in the compound, the faster it breaks down upon disposal.

Our north-west based supplier is a leading enterprise that operates a Sustainable Procurement Policy, which seeks to monitor and manage the business’s environmental impact, whilst ensuring social, environmental and economic factors are fully considered by employees and suppliers.

Our rubber is covered by a 3-year warranty against material degradation.

Aluminium

Sustainability and durability run through our equipment quite literally from top to bottom, as the supporting uprights on our popular Toddlerzone, Playzone, Neo and Mission ranges are constructed from high-quality, responsibly sourced aluminium.

Three of our four main aluminium suppliers are based locally in West Yorkshire, reducing freight emissions, and all seek to work within a sustainable supply chain, with one certified to the Environmental 14001 standard, whilst another is beginning to roll out the use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil to replace diesel at all of their service centres, leading to a reduction in carbon emissions and nitrogen oxide.

Aluminium is not only a highly durable material, it is also the most recyclable metal in the world, and can be continually re-melted and refashioned into new products without losing its properties. This process also uses up to 95% less energy than the production of new aluminium from raw materials.

Its unique combination of versatile properties, including low weight, high strength, corrosion resistance and recyclability make it a perfect match for heavy usage playgrounds. A hardened powder coated finish provides it with the best chance of enduring heavy usage, whilst sealing the surface’s prime coating, and adding further durability through a UV stable colourfast finish.

Our aluminium is covered by a lifetime warranty against structural strength, and our powder coating is covered by a 7-year warranty against significant corrosion due to faulty materials or finishing.

Mild Steel

Mild steel is another essential material which is a perfect fit for our durable product range, used to create the supporting components of our multi play units, as well as rotators such as our inclusive dish roundabouts.

As with stainless steel, our supplier is an established enterprise in the local West Yorkshire area. Their mild steel includes an average of 76% recycled content, and is created from raw materials sourced from UK and Belgian foundries which are BES6001 certified. As of April 2023, their activity was estimated to produce 1.39 tonnes of carbon emissions per tonne of steel, well below one of the major estimated industry averages (1.85 tonnes), and on par with another (1.40).

This high-quality material is painted using a sustainable electrostatic process, and gains added protection through a UV stable colourfast finish. It has been proven to withstand not only the rigours of daily usage but the harshest of outdoor environments, including those with high salinity – this is well-evidenced by the fact that there has never been a customer claim against its structural guarantee.

Our mild steel is covered by a lifetime warranty against structural strength.

Stainless Steel

Another material that helps us to offer the most robust equipment on the market is stainless steel, used in the manufacture of our chute, bedway and bannister slides.

Our supplier is local, based like us in West Yorkshire (reducing freight-based carbon emissions), and sources their stainless steel from an enterprise which is a leader in sustainability, whose steel output includes a recycled content of between 85% and 90% (against an industry average of 60%); this same enterprise has also reduced their direct per ton CO² by 25% over the last decade. In addition, the carbon footprint of their stainless steel has been found to be almost 40% smaller than it was in the 1990s.

The stainless steel in our products is maintenance free, easy clean, and suitable for all environments. It conforms to EN10088 specifications, and it is austenitic – making it stronger, more durable, and less electrically and thermally conductive than carbon steel, as well having a greater corrosion resistance. This durable, robust composition greatly extends the material’s lifespan, deferring waste creation (and steel is already the most recycled material used in manufacturing overall, so is far less likely to create waste at all).

Our stainless steel is covered by a lietime warranty against structural strength.

HPL

HPL is a high-performance, external grade, self-supporting laminate utilised in versatile ways throughout our product range, such as the colourful panelling on many of our multi-play units.

The two key components in its creation are paper (technically called cellulose fibres) and thermosetting resin, with the former representing 60-70% of the finished material.

Our supplier is an Environmental Management Systems ISO 14001:2015 certified business, which holds both of the voluntary ‘Chain of Custody’ certifications according to FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) schemes. These certifications guarantee that the final product is made of material from well-managed, FSC or PEFC-Certified forests, and other controlled sources.

No organic solvents, asbestos or heavy metals are used during HPL’s production cycle, and it doesn’t release any gases, vapours, solvents or fluids. Its processing waste can be handled in a manner equivalent to household waste at controlled landfills, and it is estimated that 80% of the waste generated by our supplier is recovered.

Once created, HPL’s standout durability (it is fire-retardant, scratch and shock resistant, and non-porous) ensures that it will resist a great deal of wear and tear, and endure for long periods before requiring replacement.

Our HPL panels are covered by a lifetime warranty against non-structural failure due to faulty workmanship or materials.

HDPE

HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) is an extremely versatile thermoplastic polymer used in the freestanding play panels which feature in many of our play spaces, as well as for various components across our product range.

Offering an excellent strength-to-density ratio, and a very high impact resistance and melting point, products utilising HDPE are sure to enjoy a very long life.

The HDPE we purchase is sustainably sourced, and includes an average of 76% recycled content. Our supplier has also recycled 99% of their waste material and off-cuts since the formation of their business, and offers HDPE recycling services to customers for products which are no longer required.

Unlike natural, porous materials such as wood (which can feature fissures or grooves that harbour moisture or bacteria) HDPE resists mould and rotting as well as most strong mineral acids and naturally occurring chemicals. HDPE is also easily recyclable, helping to keep non-biodegradable waste out of landfill.

Our freestanding play panels are also accompanied by a selection of sustainably sourced supporting posts, including recycled plastic, galvanised metal, and timber. As with HDPE, these enjoy a far longer lifespan due to their environmental resistance (with none of the rotting, cracking, or splitting that may come with traditional timber posts), and they also help to reduce non-biodegradable landfill waste.

Our HDPE is covered by a lifetime warranty against non-structural failure due to faulty workmanship or materials.

Glulam

Our Treetops multi-play equipment is well-known for its naturalistic aesthetic, with striking wooden support beams bringing an eye-catching look to the entire range.

These are constructed from Glued Laminated (Glulam) Larch, a structurally engineered wood comprised of layers of dimensioned lumber, bonded together with durable, moisture-resistant structural adhesives.

Our well-established supplier of Glulam is based very locally to our factory in West Yorkshire, reducing freight emissions – and as with all of our materials, Glulam’s great durability minimises waste and the need for replacement in the long term. Its design delivers greater dimensional stability than that of whole log sections, with no shakes, twisting or warping, and all Glulam beams within the Treetops range have an oblique cut top to prevent water ingress, as well as galvanized steel shoes to protect the base of each post from the elements.

As well as having no known negative environmental effects, repairability of Glulam is high, and once it reaches the end of its natural life, it can be repurposed as an excellent biofuel.

Our Glulam is covered by a 15-year warranty against structural strength.

Timber

Timber is an essential material in our work, used primarily in our naturalistic Orchard range – and we strive to ensure not only that it is sustainably sourced, but smartly applied to ensure maximum longevity.

Our certified supplier handles slow grown pine logs derived from strictly controlled sources, either through government body approved felling licences or forest/woodland management plans. They also encourage the recycling of their products during manufacturing, with all wastage repurposed – including in a local biomass plant that produces electricity and heat.

The timber we purchase for use in our Orchard posts has been pressure treated against wet rot, dry rot and insect infestation, carried out after it has been cut and drilled (ensuring the coverage of all exposed timber). It has also been preservative pressure-treated with high-quality Tanalith 9000, which is proven at providing unrivalled protection.

A UK-sourced aluminium protective shoe maintains the timber above ground level, protecting the base of each post throughout its lifetime, and side ventilation holes allow the posts to breathe and stay dry. At the other end, a special rubber cap completely seals the post top, preventing moisture from entering the top grain.

Our Timber is covered by a 15-year warranty against structural strength.