Timberplay Ireland

At Timberplay Ireland, our partnership with Richter Spielgeräte is built on shared values and a mutual dedication to creating play spaces that enrich children's development. Since its founding in 1967 by Hilde Richter, Richter Spielgeräte has been a family-run enterprise, now led by her grandson, Julian Richter Jr. For over 50 years, Richter has prioritised play value, environmental responsibility, and safety. Their commitment to using sustainably sourced mountain larch and avoiding chemical preservatives aligns with our own dedication to environmental stewardship. Timberplay Ireland, formerly Nature Play, became part of the Timberplay family under the leadership of Managing Director Paul Collings. Paul's vision has always been to provide better play spaces for children, focusing on natural materials and designs that encourage imaginative, active play. Together, we focus on designing playgrounds that encourage creativity, exploration, and challenge, ensuring every piece of equipment offers meaningful, lasting experiences for children of all abilities. This collaboration allows us to deliver playgrounds that stand the test of time, both in durability and in the enriching experiences they provide. Discover more about our shared story here: 🔗 About Richter Spielgeräte: https://lnkd.in/eaK3Bn9R 🔗 About Timberplay Ireland: https://lnkd.in/eVciDxtz 🔗 Interview with Paul Collings: https://lnkd.in/eZYAKugn #PlayValue #TimberplayIreland #RichterSpielgeräte #MeaningfulPlay #ChildCentredDesign #SustainablePlay Matthew Chapman

Yesterday marked the annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities, an opportunity to reflect on how we can all contribute to a more inclusive Ireland. With 1 in 50 people neuro-divergent and 1 in 65 autistic here, it's essential that our spaces – including playgrounds – embrace diversity and cater to all abilities. The Guinness Storehouse, in partnership with As I Am, has set an inspiring standard by developing a sensory-friendly experience. Their work highlights how collaboration can create spaces where everyone feels valued. At Timberplay Ireland, we share this vision, offering a wide range of inclusive play equipment. From wheelchair-accessible designs to sensory play options that engage through sound, light, and texture, our goal is to ensure every child has access to the joy of play. We recognise that autism and ADHD are spectrum disorders, and each child experiences the world in their own unique way. That’s why variety is key. Inclusive playgrounds should reflect the diversity of the children using them, providing opportunities for every individual to connect, explore, and thrive. Ireland is making incredible strides in disability awareness, and we’re proud to be part of this movement. Let’s continue working together to create spaces where all children can feel included and inspired. 🌻 https://lnkd.in/dEdWRVaQ #Inclusion #AutismAwareness #PlayForAll #TimberplayIreland #InternationalDisabilityDay #AVEA

At Timberplay Ireland, we run CPDs because we believe in the power of shared knowledge and the impact it can have on the spaces we create together. Our sessions are crafted to dive deep into what it means to design play spaces that last and truly engage. We’re talking about more than just durable timber equipment; we’re exploring how to build environments with maximum PLAY VALUE, tailored to inspire creativity, encourage social interaction, and support development in ways that matter to children. Our goal is to leave you with fresh perspectives and practical insights, so you can bring even more depth and INNOVATION to your projects. Running CPDs also allows us to have REAL conversations with you, the experts on the ground, who understand the nuances and challenges of designing for diverse communities. It’s an opportunity for us to explore ideas TOGETHER, answer questions, and spark discussions that challenge us to continually raise the bar in playground design. We’re passionate about crafting play spaces that stand the test of time and create lasting value – and we know you are too. #playvalue #outdoorplayequipment #timberplayground #durabletimber #timberplay #ireland #CPD #landscapearchitect

We’re excited to welcome Landscape Architect Daniel Wynn-Mackenzie to the Timberplay team! Daniel brings experience of project management from across the public and charity sector, and an approach to Landscape Architecture rooted in social justice. Daniel has followed a wiggly route to land with the Landscape Design team at Timberplay. He spent most of his career in the charity sector as a consultant and project manager before making the switch to Landscape Architecture. Whilst working in the international development and humanitarian sector he ran workshops, worked across global departments and supported senior managers, and developed new governance systems. After studying Landscape Architecture at the University of Sheffield, he joined the Landscape Design team at Rotherham Council, where he ran projects of urban renewal, playground design and other bits and pieces. “Play and facilitating access to joy has always been a driver in my work and personal life. I’m thrilled to have joined a team and a company where the conversations about designing space are founded in enhancing the user experience, and there is a strong sense of social mission throughout the projects. Together, we’ll be designing play spaces which are fun, sustainable and aspire to be inclusive for the needs of many." #Timberplay #LandscapeArchitect #Team #PlaygroundDesign

What an incredible few days at the AVEA - Association of Visitor Experiences & Attractions Conference 2024! From the thought-provoking sessions to the engaging conversations, it was a brilliant opportunity to connect with so many passionate professionals across Ireland’s visitor experience and attractions sector. A special thank you to Catherine Flanagan for putting together such a fantastic event, and to all the inspiring speakers who shared their expertise and vision for the future. The energy in the room was contagious, with a real focus on the vital role we all play in shaping tourism and enhancing visitor experiences. As Anne O'Donoghue, new chair of AVEA, said, ‘We turn the keys, we matter, we are the caretakers, the curators of tourism’ – a great reminder of the value we bring to our communities. Looking forward to seeing the new ideas, continued growth and collaborations that come from this year’s event! Matthew Chapman Charlie Collings #AVEA2024 #VisitorAttractions #Tourism #Networking #Collaboration #Innovation #Inclusion #AVEAConf24 #VisitorExperiences #Ireland

We're thrilled to share that Timberplay Ireland will be attending the 2024 AVEA - Association of Visitor Experiences & Attractions Conference next week! As proud supporters of AVEA and its commitment to enhancing visitor experiences and attractions across Ireland, we look forward to connecting with fellow members and learning from the fantastic line-up of speakers. This year’s theme of innovation, agility, and inclusion reflects the principles we champion at Timberplay Ireland, and we can’t wait to see how these ideas come to life throughout the event. Looking forward to an inspiring few days! #AVEAConf24 #Kilkenny #Conference #IrelandTourism #Timberplay #TimberplayIreland #Play #Playgrounds #OutdoorPlay

🔥 Prevent Wildfires: Ditch Disposable Barbecues 🔥 As forest fires in the UK become more frequent, it's time to rethink our summer cooking habits. Disposable barbecues pose serious risks to our wildlife and natural spaces, often causing wildfires when not properly extinguished. In our latest article, we explore how permanent public barbecues—like Christie electric cooktops—offer a safer, more sustainable alternative. These installations not only reduce fire risks but also support a greener, reusable future for our parks and forests. Read the full article to learn how we can protect the UK's outdoor spaces below... #Sustainability #WildfirePrevention #PublicSafety #EcoFriendly #ChristieBarbecues #ForestFirePrevention #OutdoorCooking

TEAM UPDATE: We're thrilled to welcome Hayley Ashby to the Timberplay family! Joining us as our new Creative Content and Partnerships Expert, Hayley brings a wealth of experience and fresh perspectives that will elevate our storytelling and collaborations. Hayley has spent most of her career working at the BBC, primarily producing and editing speech radio programmes but for the past 4 years her role at Wild Rumpus, an outdoor arts and events not-for-profit organisation, spanned both programming and partnerships. Play is one of the central pillars of Wild Rumpus’ work and Hayley worked with Timberplay for several years as part of a partnership between the two organisations. Together we’ve brought some amazing playscapes to festival settings and curated panel discussions, workshops and talks around all aspects of play. “I am really excited about continuing to work with the Timberplay team in this new role. There are so many inspiring and important conversations about play happening right now... so many amazing individuals and organisations creating the opportunities for children (and adults!) to play well. We are going to be curating content that reflects some of the discussions, the work, the amazing spaces and projects, as well as creating space and opportunity for discussion and idea sharing around all aspects of play. Watch this space!” Welcome to Timberplay, Hayley Ashby! 👋 🎉 #timberplay #teamupdate #staffupdate #creativecontent #playindustry #play #landscapearchitects #network

Sustainability is, and has always been, an important shared value between Timberplay and our manufacturers, Richter Spielgeräte. Due to increasingly damaging environmental issues including climate change and pollution levels, it is becoming more and more essential to prioritise the environment. At Timberplay we will happily take extra steps to ensure we are doing just that. Wood from our play projects is sourced from the mountains in Austria, where it is grown naturally and without the introduction of chemical elements. We specifically use a lot of Mountain Larch, a slow-growing wood, known for its durability and resistance to rotting. Reforestation is also a priority, with more trees being planted than were felled. Tree farming here is done on a small scale meaning each new replanted tree is well-nurtured throughout its growth. Julian Richter from Richter Spielgeräte wrote, ‘For us, wood is a part of our life, and if you think more globally, certainly an indispensable part of humanity.’. The following graphic explains the lifecycle of our wood - take a glance to understand more how we ensure we are committing to our sustainability values. #timberplay #reforestation #timber #sustainability #environment #richterspielgeraete #woodlifecycle #woodenplaygrounds

On Friday, we joined the rest of the Create Partnerships group for an 'unconscious bias and conscious inclusion' workshop delivered by Laughology. This was a unique morning of development packed with team tasks and games to understand how the psychology of bias affects individual views and how we can combat this. This was followed by a fascinating walking tour of Sheffield city centre focusing on the public realm. It was interesting to hear more about the history of Sheffield and how that has shaped recent developments within the city. We were blessed with fantastic weather on Friday and may have found ourselves with a refreshment in the pub garden at the end of the day! Timberplay Ltd Timberplay Scotland Timberplay Ireland All Urban Ltd Lightmain #personaldevelopment #createpartnerships #unconsciousbias #psychology #publicrealm #laughology