Alum Chine Adventure Playground, Bournemouth
Client: Bournemouth Borough Council
Background
As part of the Borough of Bournemouth’s Seafront Strategy, the council were looking to revamp one of the existing, tired beachfront play areas to inspire new generations of visitors. The playground was designed around a ‘Treasure Island’ theme, introducing a more naturalised landscape and extending the park to incorporate the adjacent wooded embankment.
Scandor submitted a tender for the project in late February and were awarded the contract in early March and started on site a week later.
Bournemouth had a groyne replacement programme underway and the Opepe timber was recycled and used on this scheme. This gave the timber a softer more weathered, natural finish.
Our Role
Scandor were appointed as main contractor for the project. The scheme was designed by Landscape Architect, Aileen Shackell, with a focus on natural play and Scandor undertook the following tasks:
- Clearance of existing play equipment
- Grading and formation works
- Installation of footings for play equipment
- Construction of retaining structure using gabion baskets, which incorporated curved seating
- A board walk, viewing platform and wooden bridge using recycled timbers
- Post & rope handrails
- Formation of terracing using sleepers
- Construction of raised planters using recycled timber
- Crane placement of a very large fallen natural tree play structure
Challenges
The site had limited access with one road in and out. The access road adjacent to the site was also used for public access from the Chine to the beach and had to be kept open to service the neighbouring restaurant and beach itself. The play area was sited in a very busy area right by the beach and café with limited parking which involved a detailed health & safety plan in order to carry out the works as safely as possible for the workforce and the general public. Another challenge was the craning in of a 5-6 tonne tree into a tight space early in the morning.
