<![CDATA[Play & Leisure Services Ltd

<![CDATA[Play & Leisure Services Ltd - News]]>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 11:14:33 +0000Weebly<![CDATA[News]]>Tue, 02 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.playandleisureservices.co.uk/news/agapito

]]><![CDATA[HAGS Global New Website]]>Thu, 11 Jul 2024 08:17:56 GMThttp://www.playandleisureservices.co.uk/news/hags-global-new-website

HAGS of Sweden Home | HAGS Global have launched a brilliant new intuitive website today! New products to Home | HAGS Global their existing range of exciting play and fitness ranges. We at Play and Leisure Services are proud to represent HAGS in Ireland and look forward to collaborating with Councils and Architects to develop new exciting and challenging play and fitness areas / Arena Multi Use Games Areas

Inspiring all generations
At HAGS, we all love the outdoors. This shared love is what makes us committed to creating amazing outdoor spaces that everyone can enjoy. Our playgrounds teach through play, our outdoor sport arenas and gym equipment encourages communities to get active, and our outdoor park and urban furniture ensures everyone can rest and recuperate in the fresh air. For over 75 years we have been shaping outdoor spaces that are refreshingly different, distinctly Swedish and inimitably HAGS.

MUGA

Play

]]><![CDATA[Why is play so important?]]>Mon, 08 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.playandleisureservices.co.uk/news/why-is-play-so-importantThe children’s author and poet, Michael Rosen has spoken out about the fundamental right to play. He said that play should not be seen as an “add on”, or an “extra” as he urged adults and children to “get out there and play”.

We wanted to share, as a reminder Rosen’s comments, which come in a video by the British Psychological Society (BPS), which has said it is concerned that break times are being eroded.

In the video, called Right To Play, Rosen, a former Children’s Laureate who is best known for books such as We’re Going On A Bear Hunt, says: “Play isn’t an extra, it isn’t an add on. Play is a fundamental human right. Whoever you are, maybe you’re a mum, a dad, an auntie, an uncle or a grandparent, a child, a teenager, a teacher, whoever you are, let’s get out there and play.”

The video features primary school children talking about why play is important to them.

Research published last year found that school break times are now shorter than two decades ago.

James Bowen, director of policy for the National Association of the Head Teachers (NAHT), said: “Breaks are essential for everyone in the school, and the negative impact on pupil-wellbeing is definitely a concern.

“The school day is now jam-packed with tougher content and more obligations for schools to deliver. School budgets have been at breaking point for several years, so resources are stretched and the number of support staff available to cover breaktimes has been reduced."

Here at Play and Leisure Services we have worked with many schools to help improve the play opportunities available to children at breaks and as part of PE. Please contact us for more information or a consultation!

]]><![CDATA[8th. April 2024]]>Thu, 10 Dec 2020 11:58:18 GMThttp://www.playandleisureservices.co.uk/news/merry-christmas<![CDATA[Child directed free play with Big Blue Blocks]]>Wed, 06 Mar 2019 11:02:16 GMThttp://www.playandleisureservices.co.uk/news/child-directed-free-play-with-big-blue-blocksThe Big Blue Blocks are designed for indoor & outdoor spaces such as playgrounds, schools, gyms, parks, museums or child care facilities.

Hidden within the blocks and only revealed by imaginative minds are mazes, castles, rockets, race cars, giraffes, voyaging canoes, and musical instruments. Created by an award-winning architect inspired by his own children’s play, the big foam blocks are basically a portable playground that can turn any space into a place for learning, social interactions, and open-ended play.

Tracy Murch, Headteacher at Tasis Primary School, Surrey: “When they have an issue, they have to sort things out by themselves. If their building collapses, we asked them ‘what are you going to do about it’ rather than giving them a ready-made solution. We encourage them not to give up when encountering a difficulty and they learn to be persistent.”

What is Imagination Playground?

An interactive, transformable environment that prompts children to manipulate their environment and create a playspace of their own (with sand, water and loose parts). Imagination Playground addresses a broader spectrum of play needs through opportunities for fantasy play and socio-cooperative play, in addition to more traditional running, jumping and climbing. Kids need to be active on many levels, and they need to exercise their minds as well as their muscles.

Benefits & Usability

Social skills: Building new constructions encourages communication and team work
Physical: Creating new structures requires lots of movement and will keep children active for hours
Numeracy: Constructing new shapes is a great introduction to the concepts of weight, geometry and the principles of counting
Literacy: Children will engage in dramatic play providing opportunities for children to practice language and literacy
Sensory: Playing with foam blocks stimulates a variety of children’s senses such as touch, movement and balance
Imagination: Free play allows children to be anyone and do anything in the Imagination Play world

Clare, Early Years Teacher at Hopscotch Nursery, Brighton: "When we first received the set, we voluntarily put aside the instruction manual. The idea was to let children give free reign to their imagination and encourage free play."

What are the Blocks made of?

Imagination Playground Blocks are made of a cross-linked polyethylene foam. The closed-cell foam is soft, lightweight, waterproof, and recyclable. It is resistant to sun, heat, mold, mildew, corrosion and microorganisms. These highly durable blocks can be transported to a landfill or returned to the manufacturer to be recycled when they are no longer wanted on the playground. All products meet ASTM and CPSC standards.

Big Blue Blocks Set - Imagination Playground

Find out more

Give us a call if you'd like a to find out which solution best suits your needs!
+44 (0)28 42 788702

]]><![CDATA[Letting Children lead the way - Herzog Park Nature Play Area]]>Mon, 04 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.playandleisureservices.co.uk/news/letting-children-lead-the-way-herzog-park-nature-play-areaHerzog Park is a small local village park located at the rear of Orwell Road and Terenure Road East close to the centre of Rathgar Village, Dublin. Herzog Park is also the home of Rathgar Tennis Club and has facilities including 10 all weather floodlit tennis courts, a tennis wall and a clubhouse.

The site itself is unconventional in form, with many established trees and undulating levels. Often unused areas like this remain just that, unused. Fortunately, Dublin City Council and the local community had the vision and imagination to confidently propose this interesting, inspiring, unconventional space, which in turn will lead to an interesting and inspiring Natural Play Park.

Under the concept theme ‘Help Nature + Have Fun’ and in consultation with over 70 school children and their teachers from three local schools, a discussion took place to look at the design of a new playground in Herzog Park, Rathgar. This important step, taken by Dublin City Council, allowed local children to have an input into the design and development of their physical, social and cultural play space. This type of community involvement will help to increase community cohesion, build trust in the local authority and pride in the area too.

Click here to see the outcomes of the fabulous workshops that took place.

It was clear from the workshops that the children wanted a strong focus on nature and to retain the woodland feel of this currently underused area. The challenge for us was fitting in as many of the children’s fabulous ideas as possible! From bug hotels to bird boxes, to water play and tube slides, Ziplines to walkways amongst the trees.

Our proposal not only provides a close link to nature, which is vital to child development but it also provides varied play provision that will appeal to children of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. A park where adventure, discovery and fun comes together, encouraging children to be outdoors and active whilst building relationships with their peers and nature.

We are super excited about winning this contract and seeing everyone’s hard work come to realization.

]]><![CDATA[5 things to consider before buying a swing]]>Tue, 11 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.playandleisureservices.co.uk/news/5-things-to-consider-before-buying-a-swingA playground classic, swings have been a permanent fixture in public outdoor spaces for decades and they are one of the most recognisable, well-loved play units among the general public.

The movement of swinging is indeed an enjoyable experience both for children and parents: it promotes laughter and happiness, beneficial to both physical and mental health; it encourages parent-child interaction during play, making it a positive bonding experience. A number of experts also agree on the positive impact it has on children’s physical and mental development, from improved body awareness to a sense of happiness and belonging.
Swings can be seen as a simple piece, however they need to tick a lot of boxes, from play value to safety requirements. Here are 5 criteria to take into account before shopping for a swing:

1. Dimensions

When shopping for a swing, look for the free fall height and the falling space area, which are indicated under “space required” on our product pages. The free fall height is the usual point from which the user can fall; the falling space area is the safety zone surrounding the equipment that needs to be clear from any obstruction.

By determining the total space needed and the amount of surfacing required, these dimensions will affect the overall cost of the installation. For example, the higher the fall height is, the thicker the surfacing needs to be to absorb impacts in case of a fall. A tall and wide swing frame will also require a larger safety area to avoid collision with users using another piece of equipment.

2. Type of Seat

The choice of seat depends on the desired age group for and the number of users playing at a given time. A seat for very young children or those with low core stability will require extra back support to ensure they are perfectly safe when playing.

For older children who crave for social interaction, basket swings are the go-to products as they can accommodate a larger number of users and offer optimal cost per user. Basket swings also enable users of differing abilities to play together as children with disabilities can sit comfortably and enjoy the ride with their able-bodied friends or carers.

3. Material

The type of material plays a big role in the decision-making process as it will vary according to the aesthetic you are trying to achieve or your maintenance requirements. Architects or green spaces officers who wish to create play areas with a natural feel tend to favour timber swings as they will blend harmoniously into a rural setting. On the other hand, those looking for modern-looking, bold designs echoing the urban architecture will love the contemporary look of our steel swings. Steel is also easier to maintain and will be more durable to vandalism, so it is best suited to challenging urban areas.

4. Safety Features

Some of our swings feature 'anti-wrap' bearings on the cross beam to prevent the swing seats and chains becoming wrapped around themselves, making the swings unusable. The Stratus designs include an extra chain to provide additional support.

5. Location

As for any piece of moving play equipment, general safety requirements must be followed when installing a swing. The positioning of the frame should minimise the risk of collision by being at a safe distance from other play units and away from paths and gates. Also make sure there is no landscape element in the immediate vicinity of the swing; shrubs, trees or boulders can be potential hazards if children happen to fall from the swing or run around it carelessly.

Give us a call to discuss your swing options - 028 427 88702

]]><![CDATA[Mirage Seat - The popular inclusive swing seat]]>Mon, 15 May 2017 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.playandleisureservices.co.uk/news/mirage-seat-the-popular-inclusive-swing-seatI'm sure most of you will have seen this swing seat in local parks, it is so popular among councils & communities.

Mirage Seat is a breakthrough product, created after years of research, which is designed for children from 5 to 14 years old of all physical abilities. It has the style of a Jet Fighter seat, complete with the contoured lines that offer full body support.

Take off and flight are now available to all children, and there is a unique optional harness for those children who need it. Mirage Seat meets all DDA requirements for inclusive play.

The Mirage Seat can also be retro-fitted to most swing frames. Please contact us for more details.

]]><![CDATA[Very exciting news! Meet IJ Slander Playground Equipment! Our new Stainless Steel range!]]>Fri, 11 Nov 2016 13:18:24 GMThttp://www.playandleisureservices.co.uk/news/very-exciting-news-meet-ij-slander-playground-equipment-our-new-stainless-steel-rangeDurable, low-maintenance and 100% recyclable sports and play equipment made from only the strongest of materials: stainless steel!

All equipment has been tested to EN1176.

This equipment will fill a gap in our product range, now enabling us to offer a full stainless steel option to all our customers! Please do contact us to find out more information or for a FREE consultation.

]]><![CDATA[Primary School Outdoor Gym Equipment]]>Thu, 14 Jul 2016 08:46:13 GMThttp://www.playandleisureservices.co.uk/news/primary-school-outdoor-gym-equipment

Making Exercise Fun for Children

Welcome to our range of outdoor gym equipment, designed by experts specifically for the use of primary school children KS1 & 2.

Our equipment provides a fun and exhilarating exercise experience for children. Outdoor gyms benefit children greatly; getting them into the fresh air, burning energy whilst having a huge amount of fun, encouraging a life-long love of exercise.

Used during lesson time, an outdoor gym provides an innovative structured PE class. They are also incredibly popular during general playtime.

Our aim is to enthuse pupils, make fitness fun and provide an enormous sense of achievement as they develop skills such as balance and co-ordination, social interaction while improving their fitness. With lesson plans to support your staff you can be confident that effective teaching and learning will take place.

We have the largest range of outdoor fitness equipment built specifically for primary school children.

Want to find out more? Looking for prices? Give us a call!
028 427 88702

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