Transforming Hardwick Hall into a Landmark Play Destination

Nestled in County Durham, Hardwick Hall, a historic site cherished by the community, has seen its grounds transformed into a vibrant playground. We were thrilled to be appointed for this project, creating a dynamic, engaging, and inclusive play area for all ages. Crafted predominantly from sustainably sourced wood and designed with a £431k budget, this bespoke destination enhances Hardwick Hall's beauty and reinforces its role as a central hub for community engagement and outdoor enjoyment.
Following a comprehensive client consultation, the objective for the new playground was clear: design a novel play space that harmonises with the park's natural beauty and historical significance. This endeavour sought to achieve several key goals: Aesthetic Integration: Seamlessly integrate the playground with its natural woodland surroundings, utilising sustainably sourced wood and earthy colours.
Statement Centrepiece: Create a truly unique and captivating central play structure that draws visitors from across the county and beyond. Diverse Play Value: Provide a wide variety of equipment with multiple play values, encouraging physical activity, creativity, and social interaction. Inclusive Family Enjoyment: Ensure accessibility for a wide range of ages and abilities, allowing children and supervising adults to enjoy the space together.
Health and Well-being Promotion: Foster outdoor activity, improve wellbeing, promote learning, and build resilience for future generations. The Solution: A Bespoke Robinia Tower and Inclusive Play Landscape The transformation of Hardwick Hall's grounds into a dynamic community space culminated in the creation of an extraordinary playground. We were delighted to be awarded the contract and after extensive meetings and planning we started works in October 2024 and opening in time for the 2025 Summer Holidays the undeniable focal point of the play area is the dramatic 14.6m Tower its natural timber peeking above the trees immediately captures attention, hinting at the adventures within.
This impressive play installation features a 6m helter-skelter slide, a steel curved sky climbing tunnel, and an 11m high viewing platform with panoramic views. It offers varied ascent options, including rope chimneys, ladders, and ramps, alongside sensory panels at multiple levels and ground-level for inclusive play and exploration. The playground also features a wide range of inclusive equipment beyond the main tower, including dynamic swings (Snake Swing, Double Swing), a giant in-line rope swing and Stand-Up Seesaw for teamwork and balance, a Double Cableway for thrilling races and accessible options like a Basket Swing and Inclusive Roundabout for all ages and abilities. It also offers a Satellite Carousel for spinning fun, a relaxing Hammock for quiet contemplation, various sensory play panels (nature-themed, music-based, finger mazes), and Playground Communication Panels to support non-verbal communication
The surfacing within the playground combines the natural aesthetic and safety of play bark in key areas with the perfectly flat and durable Wet Pour recycled rubber surfacing, ideal for wheelchair users and ensuring accessibility to all equipment in all weathers, all year round. Both solutions meet the highest safety standards.
Outcome and Impact This thoughtfully designed play area is poised to be a vibrant and engaging destination within Hardwick Park, encouraging outdoor activity, improving wellbeing, fostering learning, and building resilience for generations to come. The project successfully respects the historical significance and natural beauty of its setting while transforming it into a central hub for community engagement and outdoor enjoyment. Cllr James Rowlandson, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for resources, investment and assets, said: “Hardwick Park is one of our busiest parks and welcomes 450,000 visitors each year. "We know the park is popular with families, so we’ve committed to developing the play area into a refreshed, new space for children to play, develop their motor skills, and spend quality time outdoors”