Making a Splash: Innovative Waterplay Designs for Visitor Attractions
Broadcast On 20/03/2023
Delivered in partnership with ASVA members, Timberplay Scotland, this webinar explored the latest trends and innovations in waterplay design, and considered how they can be implemented in a safe and educational manner. Experts from Timberplay Scotland discussed the challenges and opportunities in creating engaging waterplay experiences for families, from the initial design phase to ongoing maintenance and operation.
Members learned about different waterplay features, materials, and safety considerations, as well as how to incorporate educational elements into your waterplay area, and how adding waterplay to your visitor attraction can help create exciting and educational experiences for your visitors.
The webinar looked at:
- Why sand & water play are so important for the development of children
- What the benefits are of using sand & water for visitor attractions
- How to look after sand & water play after installation – practical implications and maintenance considerations
- How incorporating play can increase dwell time & secondary spend through some example Visitor Attractions from Scotland’s own Glasgow Science Centre & Dumfries House to Oman and beyond
About Timberplay: With over 20 years’ experience of play, Timberplay have a vast knowledge of play and how this can benefit attractions. They have worked on projects all over the UK and beyond for Museums, Farm Parks, Theme Parks, Botanical Gardens, Zoo’s and many more visitor attractions. The session will be hosted by two of Timberplay’s best play experts in Mark Grimshaw, Business Development Manager for Timberplay Scotland and Beth Cooper, Creative Play Consultant.
Mark holds a degree in Geography from Lancaster University, and a Masters in Urban Regeneration and Development which was achieved at the University of Manchester. Prior to joining Timberplay Scotland, he spent the previous 12 years in a project management capacity at a Community Interest Company. As Contract Manager, Mark led their landscape contracting division; delivering a wide range of projects including play, public realm, civils and maintenance. Working with landscape architects has provided him with an extensive working knowledge of landscape projects and their effective delivery from drawing board to site. Passionate about engaging with the environment – a keen walker, runner and cyclist – Mark wants children to develop via natural play opportunities, and by experiencing risk and challenge. By working closely with our clients, Mark ensures his knowledge and passion drives the effective delivery of our quality projects and services. Mark’s most recent successes include the implementation of sensory play at Glasgow Science Centre, indoor play at Craigie’s Farm Park and new play at Raimore Garden Centre.
Beth originally began working with the Timberplay team as part of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Sheffield Hallam University. Her passion, knowledge and enthusiasm made the company committed to keeping her on beyond completion of the project. She now heads up their CPD and consultation department and travels the length and breadth of the country, delivering inspirational lectures and seminars on the complex and evolving world of play. All her professional life, Beth has worked with young people and children and her experiences and observations were consolidated when she embarked on a Children and Playwork BA at Sheffield Hallam University, building on this with an MA. This knowledge underpinned the development of Simply Play, a tool she developed with her KTP to assess the play value in any site.