Nature based playgrounds by KOMPAN

Explore our assortment for natural playgrounds

Wooden playground equipment creates an inviting outdoor playground environment that entices children to interact with natural materials and play structures. Being in the Great Outdoors has a great impact on children and adults’ health and well-being, and spending time on wooden playgrounds supports their connection with nature and desire to participate in conservation efforts. Choosing a natural theme playground will bring children and adults closer to Mother Earth and help grow their connection with their surroundings.

Our wooden play category is all about creating natural playgrounds using Robinia wood and other hardwoods and pine, and we use our design expertise to make sure our natural play structures are fit for their beautiful park surroundings. To manufacture durable play structures, we need nature's most durable material. We primarily use Robinia wood and other hardwoods and pine where appropriate, but the arrival of a new shipment of Robinia at our Brno factory is a moment of excitement. That’s because Robinia is a joy to work with. Its strength is held in its grain,and we let the grain dictate how we use each piece of timber. In turn, it rewards us all by making every Robinia structure and feature individual, every Castle telling a different tale, every Play System a unique challenge, and every natural theme playground telling its own unique story.

Totally sustainable, the European Robinia is more than just a component material.  With its strength, durability and potential it is at the center of our Nature Play range in the Villages, Ships, Obstacle Courses and for Preschoolers, Play, Act, Learn products.  KOMPAN helps bring the natural playground to a new level of playful development.

If you want to see more of our revit playground equipment - please click here. 

 

Creating play areas with nature-inspired playgrounds

Nothing encourages children’s natural play more so than being outside with their friends. Connecting with nature awakens children’s instinct to play and explore.  There are many benefits of a natural playground, our nature-inspired playgrounds give children a play environment with room to do what children do best – play and explore. We set loving frames with natural play structures to guide them in their play, and in between there is room for imagination and play in the beautiful open air. Nature-inspired playgrounds are also a way to bring greenery and forests into urban environments. A nature inspired playground will even help you transform the saddest of concrete jungles into a vibrant, inviting playground that will spread the freshness of nature throughout the entire community.

KOMPAN is a playground company which have been in the field of natural playground play for more than 50 years. Creating natural playgrounds that invite children to connect with their outdoor surrounds is at the heart of our DNA. We use nature’s best and most durable material to bring the best of play to all children in natural playscapes. 

Looking to the future of nature-based playgrounds

Important features of playgrounds that inspire nature play are the use of materials that work with the environment, rather than against it. This may mean using natural construction materials such as Robinia wood, but it can also mean using materials such as rope, metal, or HDPE, in a manner that creates a transparent look, allowing children and their families to view and interact with nature while they are at play. The natural playscape will be an attractor to children and families, and with good design, it will support longer and more active playtimes outside. Get inspiration to your next playground by our natural playground ideas! 

Combining inclusive play in a nature play environment

Inclusion is also an important consideration in designing a natural playground.  With inclusive design, the principle that persons of all abilities will have structures and spaces to play actively on the playground together. The first step in designing for inclusion in nature play is to ensure accessibility to play choices, such as swinging, sliding, gliding, bouncing, balancing, spinning, rocking, and climbing, as well as access to all of the playful natural elements in the play space such as plants, trees, water, dirt, sand and stones. But designing for inclusion goes beyond access to ensure that the play elements and the natural features are designed so they are appealing and thrilling for persons of all abilities to play together.

What is an inclusive natural playground?

An inclusive natural playground is an environment that incorporates nature into a space with opportunities for children for all abilities to move their bodies in a variety of playful ways. In play design, variety of movement and graduated challenges are the key to sustaining play for all. Along with a variety of non-toxic plants, shrubs, trees, and touchable natural materials in the play space, there should be a variety of structures to support movements for persons of varying abilities. An inclusive natural playground is a place where children play together, with peers of all abilities and across generations.

Why are inclusive natural playgrounds important?

Inclusive natural playgrounds attract children and their families to the outdoors. With careful design, these playgrounds keep them playing for extended periods of high activity, and in turn, support child development. These playgrounds are important for several reasons:

-they help children to get acquainted with the local ecosystem

-they help children to appreciate and care for the natural world

-they help to reduce stress

-they help to focus attention

-they support active body movements in ways that cannot happen indoors

Why is nature play important for child development?

Experiences in nature and naturalized environments have benefits for health, well-being, and cognitive functioning (Bratman et al, 2012). For children, developing a connection with nature also supports their desire to participate in conservation efforts (Cheng & Monroe, 2012; Hughes et al, 2018; Wells & Lekies, 2006; Zylstra et al, 2014). A connection with nature requires direct and repeated experiences in naturalized environments. With their emphasis on enjoyment, activity, and socialization, playgrounds designed around nature make for the perfect places to support connections with Mother Earth.

Learn more about preschool playground equipment that can help young children develop. 

Need advice?

We have nearly 50 years of experience, and will support you throughout the project.

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