Burnley High School has a distinctive vision to use an ambitious curriculum to support and enrich their students with opportunities to help them discover their passions and talent.
One aspect of the school’s ethos is for students to engage in competitive sports and activities to encourage them to lead healthy and active lives. However, like many educational facilities in the UK, the school did not have access to an outdoor area all year round.
The school wanted to create a Multi-Use area for students to use all year round however, the main challenge was where they could do so that would be located near to the school’s existing facilities.
Much of the school is surrounded by uneven grass and tarmac areas used as an overflow for car parking. After an assessment the school decided a section of the overflow car parking would be ripe for renovation.
It was decided that installing an artificial grass surface would give the school an area that could be usable all year round, with minimal cleaning maintenance required, all whilst within the allocated budget. Working with the school’s chosen contractor EB Sports and the team at Playrite the school decided to install a MUGA Surface as it allows pupils to engage in a range of sports and activities including football, hockey, netball, tennis, basketball and much more.
Mark Bucknall Director at EB Sports has previously collaborated with the experts at Playrite and were familiar with the range of MUGA products available. After a site visit EB Sports were able to establish that Playrite’s Tournament MF surface would be the perfect match.
Tournament MF is a superior quality sand dressed tufted surface, designed with its unique texturised monofilament fibre to offer durability and comfort underfoot.
Tournament MF provides an excellent playing surface for sports such as hockey as well as being suitable for multi-sport use unlike artificial turf products, our MUGA sports surfaces are considered to be far more resistant to frequent wear and tear.
Since the MUGA surface has been installed, the school has been able to continue to play a variety of sports during the winter months.
They have been thoroughly impressed with the outcome of the installation and are looking forward to continuing to offer their students more sports and activities during the Spring and Summer months.
Forming part of the King Edward VI Multi Academy Trust, are two Camp Hill institutions for boys and girls. As part of the campus there are a number of outdoor pitches to cater for a plethora of sporting activities.
Despite a number of outdoor pitches both grass and tarmac, it was decided by the school that the existing tarmac surface located next to the indoor facilities needed to be upgraded. The campus’s existing fencing was broken and needed to be removed which would allow the courts to be extended by 8m.
The Trust wanted to take the opportunity to install a new surface that could offer more protection to the students and could be used by both the girls and boys campuses. Traditionally tarmacadam surfaces are considered to be more hard wearing, however in recent years the safety aspects of this type of surface has come under scrutiny.
With this in mind Blakedown Sport & Play worked with the school to select a surface that met the needs of the school.
Having undergone rigorous surface interaction tests Playrite’s Matchplay 2 was found to have higher levels of shock absorption, slip resistance, impact attenuation and rotation resistance, making artificial grass an ideal choice for physical environments.
Playrite’s Matchplay 2 synthetic grass surface is a multi-use surface specifically designed to be used for multiple sports.
Matchplay 2 also benefits from a low sand content allowing for playtime to be conducted all year round and in all weather conditions, as well as being available in a wide range of bright and vibrant colours, elevating a standard play area into a stimulating play environment.
The Playrite MatchPlay 2 surface included permanent lines for 3 Tennis Courts and 3 Netball Courts along with painted lines for handball & football.
Steven Gori, from Blakedown Sports & Play commented “The Matchplay 2 surface specified, offered our client the level of protection they requested for their pupils and allowed them to offer more sports all year round without the traditional limitations of the weather”.
With its new Playrite Matchplay 2 surface, King Edwards IV Academy is able to offer excellent sporting experiences that foster an enjoyment of learning, allowing every child the opportunity to achieve their full potential. A part of the external learning practices the school provides for the children is a focus on sports and physical activities.
Back 2013 the Saint-Michel Elementary School in Quebec transformed their outdoor space and with the help of Playrite’s canadian partner Atmosphäre, into a multi-use games area with a difference.
With a dynamic environment Saint-Michel Elementary School is run by a committed team determined to provide students with enriching activities that allow everyone to succeed while respecting their needs. With resources dedicated to supporting a small community of autistic students, it is imperative that the school incorporates the natural surroundings to provide an exceptional learning environment.
At the forefront of the specification given to Atmosphäre was to create a multi-sports field that could not only be used by the school, but also by the city’s recreation department and local day care centre.
The team proposed creating an all year round artificial grass surface which would offer the look of a grass pitch but would allow the area to be used even in the winter months.
After much research into the various artificial grass products that were available, Playrite’s Matchplay 2 was chosen.
Specifically designed for multi-use game areas, this particular surface is durable, and hardwearing requires a low sand content, which allows for all year use.
Playrite’s Matchplay 2 synthetic grass surface is our most popular sports surface specifically for schools in multi-use games areas as it ticks so many boxes for so many different sports.
Playrite’s International Sales Manager Franck Opsomer commented, “It is a testament just how durable this surface really is. It has been 10 years since the surface was originally installed and even with consistent use throughout the year it still remains as good as the day it was installed”.
Since the surface was installed, the pitch remains as popular as ever. With regular use by the local community for regional sports events and other local celebrations during the summer months, in the winter months the pitch is transformed into an ice rink.
The winter season as ever has been particularly unpredictable and can affect the maintenance requirements for outdoor courts. So ensuring that your artificial tennis courts has been looked after properly is vital more than ever, not only for the players but also for the court itself.
During the winter months tennis courts are exposed to various weather conditions such as wind, ice, and snow which can impact on the surrounding environment of a court and as such can be prone to debris, decaying foliage or in some cases excess water left lying on the surface. Left over a long period of time, these can cause significant damage to the courts surface.
Here are our tips to maintain your court effectively to prolong the life of your artificial tennis courts.
Cleaning your Tennis Court surface
To clean your court effectively without damaging the surface we would recommend the following methods.
Drainage
Any tennis court should have been installed with a superior drainage system in place to remove any excess water.
Regular maintenance checks of the drainage systems can ensure that if there are issues such as damage to the pipes or debris blocking the drains can be detected and rectified at the earliest point.
If the drainage system is not maintained properly it can lead to more severe damages that may be more costly to repair.
Repairs
With courts left open to the elements over the winter months, there is the possibility of some repairs needed to the courts before the clubs re-open in the spring. Some damage can occur to the courts that is not always visible, such as tree root growth or some ground movement. As such we would also recommend arranging a court inspection in the Spring to provide an evaluation of the courts
Refurbishment
Should your court be deemed unplayable and beyond repair then a new surface would be the next course of action. Playrite are experts in supplying high quality Tennis Courts surfaces as part of court refurbishment programmes and can help to advise on the right product for your tennis club.
Contact the team today to find out how we can help.
Playgrounds are the perfect place for children to have fun, grow and exercise, however, this experience can be hindered if the surface they play on is not appropriate to protect and prevent them from possible falls and bumps.
Every year more than 200,000 children need to go to the hospital due to trips and falls on the playground. Some of these incidents can result in traumatic injuries such as broken arms, legs or head injuries, so it is important when creating a safe space for children to have fun that any risk of injury is reduced where possible.
Playrite specialises in finding the perfect artificial grass surface for your client. In this article, you will find a guide which explores the different types of playground surfaces available and explains the benefits to provide you with some tips for making the right decisions.
The first step when considering the right surface for a play area will depend on the needs your client has. Consider who the client is and the location of the surface installation; If they are a school or nursery, do they require a surface that can accommodate a number of activities such as football or hockey? Or if they are in a nursery or preschool setting, do they require a surface that can protect little ones?
The second step would be to work with your contractor/installer and find a surface solution that fits within your budget. Costs will vary depending on the size of the project and the material you choose, however, you will also want to consider the following as well :
Taking into consideration the above-mentioned aspects, Playrite has the perfect playground surfaces for your client, ideal for creating playgrounds that are cleaner, safer, and more durable in the market. Combined with limitless design options and impact-absorbing materials that meet BSEN1777 and BS7188, Playrite’s has two main types of artificial surfaces ideally suited for outdoor areas; Playsafe and Matchplay2
The Playsafe range is ideally suited for smaller outdoor areas within the nursery and primary school settings as the five levels of critical fall height the range is available in will help to protect the little ones and reduce injuries.
The main product features of Playsafe are:
Needle punch surface and sand infill
Matchplay2 is ideal for schools looking for an outdoor sports surface that can be utilised all year round. Perfect for ball-based sports due to its consistent ball bounce and high porosity level which allows, all- weather usage maximising playing time. Matchplay2 has a life span of 10 years, withstands all temperatures, and is cheaper to maintain than natural grass.
The mains products feature of Matchplay2 are:
With expert advice, quality and value contact Playrite today to discuss how they can help you with your next outdoor project click here.
Located in Accrington, Mount Carmel Catholic High School embraces their mission to create a family of faith community and an efficient environment for learning.
They believe that investing in their sports facilities and surfaces will help their students strive for excellence, also giving an opportunity to explore their sporting skills.
The Wade Group were approached by the school and contacted Bradley Surfacing Systems, specialists in the design and installation of sport surfaces to discuss how they could transform the existing pitches to offer multiple pitches that could be utilised all year round.
An artificial grass surface would give the school an outdoor area that could be employed all year and function as a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) for other sports including Netball, Football and Hockey.
Tom Bradley, Director at Bradley Surfacing Systems worked closely with the Wade Group and the school to ensure that the surface they chose would meet their requirements.
Playrite’s Tournament EL was initially decided upon as the main sports surface, with the addition of Playrite’s Matchpad underneath to help protect against falls and also reduce ball bounce which is needed for sports such as Football.
Tournament EL is an excellent playing surface for sports, available with inlaid lines to mark out a range of different sports. A great all year round product that will maximise your sporting needs to full potential.
Tom Bradley at Bradley Surfacing Systems recently discussed his thoughts on Playrites Tournament EL surface and commented “The quality of the surfaces manufactured by Playrite, provides our clients with the low maintenance and highly durable solution they need to have a long lasting and effective MUGA pitch and we strive to recommend their products where possible.”
The Green Way Academy vision is to offer every pupil the opportunity to become inspired and find their Remarkable.
The G.R.E.E.N way motivates students by providing a unique set of values. This not only requires investing in the quality of their education, but also in the learning environment itself.
The academy wanted its outdoor areas to reflect its values, especially the value of “enjoying discovering what is possible.” Working with Playrite partner’s, Newby Leisure, the academy were keen to design a playscheme that provided a natural feel to the play spaces whilst in particular the surfaces offered a level of protection for the children.
The majority of the areas outside would include an artificial grass surface to generate a natural look and feel.
Opting for Playrite’s Nearlygrass 30 delivered a durable, low maintenance and mud-free ground that can be played on all year round making it the ideal solution for any area that is intensively used.
Playrite’s Nearlygrass collection looks, feels, and wears like real grass, making it an ideal solution for any education setting. Not only is it soft to touch, if children fall, they will be supported by a cushioned surface.
Ashley Spink, Sales and Marketing Manager from Newby leisure, commented “Playrite’s range of artificial surfaces offer superior durability and realism”.
Ashley went on to say “The Nearlygrass products work well with our designs, making the spaces look more realistic and ideal for educational environments. We’re happy to continue our partnership with Playrite and look forward to using their products in future projects.”
In 2019 one of the world’s largest school buildings in a wooden hybrid modular construction was built, creating the Schule Westend Campus in Frankfurt. The building was designed to become a temporary location for both the primary and secondary schools in the local area until their permanent site is completed.
Using renewable raw materials, this distinctive building has been designed in a way that allows it to be dismantled and rebuilt at another location so that it can be reused in the future for other projects making it a uniquely sustainable building.
As part of the build, the outdoor area needed to provide a suitable area of play that could accommodate the needs of both the primary school children and secondary school students.
Architects GMP international, worked with outdoor surface contractors to find a solution that would look right within the temporary environment but that could also provide the children and students protection from potential injuries.
Playrite’s Matchwinner Velour 1300 in ochre, would create a remarkable sand-like look to the outdoor area, and additional shock pads underneath the surface would deliver the protection needed should any injuries be incurred.
Matchwinner Velour is a sand dressed needlepunch surface which is available in 14 different colours, and designed to be inset into the surface making it ideal for education spaces to make the area bright and bold. Matchwinner Velour can be installed directly onto tarmac or equally with a Playrite shockpad to prolong the life and performance of the surface. Meets the EN15330 Part 2 standards.
Multi-use games area (MUGA) surfaces are particularly popular for schools, sports and sometimes even in private homes. These surfaces offer a broad range of different uses for all kinds of sports including football, hockey, netball, tennis, basketball and more. Unlike artificial turf, Playrite’s MUGA sports surfaces are considered to be much more resistant to frequent wear and tear.
Why choose a Playrite MUGA Surface?
Our pitches are versatile and suitable for a wide range of different sports and exceptionally hard-wearing which means that your surfaces will be more long-lasting and more able to withstand the harshness of sports. The MUGA surfaces are also manufactured in a range of fibre options and colours to suit the needs of your pitch and the type of surface required for you chosen sport. All of our surfaces also meet EN15330 standards meaning that the requirements of the surfaces’ performance and durability characteristics are met. Not only this, but they also meet other various governing body accreditations meaning that you know these products have been tested and approved. Additionally, Playrite has made shock pads available as well as CAD visualisation of pitch and line markings available to allow you to imagine what the pitch will look like before committing to the product to ensure that you are satisfied.
MUGA Surface Options
We offer multiple surface options, each that are best for different sports to meet your different needs! Our tufted surfaces have a high pile and are best for sports such as football and rugby which imitate the feeling of natural grass whereas our needle punch surface is ideal for smaller ball sports such as hockey and tennis.
Grandplay provides durability through its monofilament polyethene texturised yarn surface and is well suited for high-level tennis players who want a faster pace. To create a uniformed tuft density, the Grandplay pitch has been designed on a 3/16 gauge which mimics a natural grass court with a positive grip underfoot, which has been favourable for many clubs. This product is available in green and is dressed in sand which offers optimum performance and lies within a medium/fast-paced rating.
This pitch is a sand dressed tufted surface, designed with superior quality and unique texturised monofilament fibre which aims to offer comfort underfoot as well as durability. This turf is suitable for multi-sport use and excellent for sports such as hockey. Because of the regulations this turf meets, the surface is ideal for a variety of ball sports including football and great to use all round. Tournament MF is available in the colour green with inlaid lines to mark out various sports and comes with a manufacturer’s 5-year warranty and is UV stable.
Similarly, Tournament EL is available in green with inlaid lines to mark out a range of different sports and comes with a 5-year warranty. This is a great all-year-round product that will maximise your sporting needs to its highest potential. Tournament EL uses monofilament fibres to meet FIH standards and is also UV stable and ideal for hockey but can be used as a multisport surface.
Conqueror 40 is available in the colour green and replicates that of a natural turf area with lower maintenance costs. This 3G sports surface is filled with sand and rubber and will perform a professional playing standard for football also with recreational hockey.
This synthetic grass surface is one of our most popular sports surfaces, specifically for schools in multi-use game areas as it is so versatile. Playrite’s Matchplay 2 is available in 9 different colours and will maximise your playing time due to its low sand content which allows for all-weather usage. This pitch is the only grass-type surface that meets Netball standards and has been recognised by Sport England.
This pitch is a sand-dressed needlepunch surface designed with a random pile that benefits various ball sports that require a medium to low ball bounce. The Matchwinner Velour is available in 14 different colours and is able to be installed onto existing hard court surfaces. This pitch enables designs to be inset into the surface which is ideal for primary spaces to make the area bright and bold and meet the EN15330 Part 2 Standards.
Want to know more? Contact our team today to get any questions you have, answered.
The safety of children is an integral part of playground development, and with ‘play’ providing an intricate part of child’s education it is imperative that the outdoor and to some extent indoor surfaces in which they play upon provides the utmost safety with no compromise.
Why choose an artificial surface for an outdoor playground?
Historically tarmacadam surfaces were specified as a popular playground surface for schools and nurseries, as it was a durable, cost effective surface that could be utilised all year round.
However this type of surface often contributes to a wide variety of injuries, as tarmacadam surfaces do not provide any protection to pupils when they fall or trip and often over time the surfaces can become uneven and be costly to replace compared to rubber surfaces or resin bound solutions.
Artificial grass solutions are an increasingly popular alternative playground surfacing option for schools and nurseries looking to be able to access outdoor spaces more frequently, whilst keeping little ones safe.
With our range of play area surface solutions, children of all age groups can enjoy playing on a surface with different levels of softness without compromising safety. Soft surfaces are easier on the feet and safer for trip and falls thus reducing the risk of injuries . All of our playground surfaces are durable and easy to maintain all year round.
Why choose of Matchplay 2
Our very own Matchplay 2 artificial grass surface is by far our most popular playground surface, designed to be used within schools and other educational settings due to its vast versatility. Also with its low sand content, it allows for use in most weather conditions making it ideal for all year round use.
We carried out comparative player/surface interaction tests on our Matchplay 2 and a tarmacadam surface, to determine their level of player/surface interaction capability in relation to falls & injury risk.
Tests proved that our Matchplay 2 playground surfaces have higher levels of shock absorption, slip resistance, impact attenuation and rotation resistance compared to Tarmac.
With a range of 14 bright, fantastic colours to choose from, it is simple to combine colours and designs to create limitless options. Manufactured with impact absorbing materials our playground surfaces are vandal-resistant and low maintenance and meet BSEN1177 AND BS7188 standards.
Our surfaces are all UK manufactured and come with a minimum 5 year warranty, because we have confidence in our surfacing and truly believe it is the best it can possibly be for you to use.
Contact us today to find out more.
