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Area of installation
đź“Ť Latune Gardens, Skelmersdale
đź—“ September 2026
Introduction
As part of the development of Latune Gardens, Wain Homes North West worked with The Playground Company to create a new Local Equipped Area for Play (LEAP), providing residents with an exciting outdoor space designed around active play and physical challenge. The project centred around the installation of a bespoke Trim Trail, combining a variety of balance and climbing equipment to create an engaging play route within the new housing development.
HDPE Traverse, Stepping Logs and Net Bridge
Balance Weaver, Stepping Logs, Balance Beam and Snake Weaver
Brief
The brief was to create a new Trim Trail for the LEAP at Latune Gardens, introducing a selection of outdoor play equipment that would encourage physical activity, balance, coordination and confidence. The equipment needed to work together as a cohesive Trim Trail, providing a variety of challenges while being suitable for installation into the existing soft ground.
Solution
The Playground Company designed a bespoke Trim Trail incorporating a series of balance and climbing elements. The chosen equipment creates a varied route through the play area, allowing users to negotiate different obstacles and physical challenges.
Grass Grow Through safety mats were also included beneath the equipment, helping to provide an appropriate safety surface while allowing grass to continue growing through the matting for a natural-looking finish.
Project Details
Bespoke Trim Trail
The completed LEAP features a selection of timber Trim Trail equipment, including:
Balance Weaver – adding an additional balance challenge with a changing level of difficulty.
Stepping Logs – creating a sequence of stepping challenges that can be incorporated into the play route.
Balance Beam – encouraging balance, coordination and controlled movement.
Snake Weaver – providing a challenging balance element as part of the Trim Trail.
Net Bridge - creating opportunities to develop balance in younger users.
HDPE Split Traverse - adding a pop of colour as well as somewhere for children to climb.
Together, these elements create a varied Trim Trail that encourages active outdoor play while introducing different physical challenges throughout the route.
The timber equipment was supplied with a 10-year timber guarantee as standard, with 15- and 20-year guarantee upgrades available.
Grass Grow Through Safety Mats
Approximately 18m² of Grass Grow Through safety mats were installed across the equipment area. The mats were specified as 12 individual 1.5m x 1m sections and were designed for installation into the soft ground. The Grass Grow Through safety mats provide a practical safety surface around the Trim Trail while retaining a natural grass appearance.
Result
The completed Latune Gardens LEAP provides a dedicated space for active outdoor play within the housing development. The bespoke Trim Trail combines balance, stepping and climbing challenges to create a varied physical play experience.
With a natural grass finish and Grass Grow Through safety mats surrounding the equipment, the new play area combines practical safety requirements with a natural aesthetic that complements the wider housing development.
The finished installation demonstrates how carefully selected Trim Trail and climbing equipment can transform an outdoor area into an engaging community play space, encouraging physical activity and adventurous play.