The Vision
Adventure Valley, a popular farm attraction, sought to transform its outdoor play area into an inclusive, engaging space that would cater to children of all abilities. The goal was to go beyond basic accessibility, ensuring inclusive access for all abilities and wheelchair users could fully engage in play, rather than simply being able to access the space.
Key objectives included:
- Delivering a high-quality inclusive play area with a wide age range appeal (2-14 years).
- Ensuring wheelchair users had meaningful play experiences, rather than just access to the play structure.
- Integrating a natural ‘Jungle’ theme to complement the existing environment.
- Creating a visually stunning and functionally rich play space that would be a standout attraction.
To achieve this, Caloo worked closely with the Adventure Valley owners and directors, guiding them through design options, bespoke elements, and inclusive play features to ensure the final installation delivered maximum play value.
The Solution
Caloo designed and installed a fully bespoke inclusive play area, incorporating sensory-rich play equipment, accessible features, and durable surfacing to create an immersive adventure space.
Key installations included:
- Vinci Single Point Accessible Swing – Allowing users of all abilities to experience motion-based play.
- Vinci Wheelchair Seesaw & Roundabout – Providing interactive, social play experiences for wheelchair users.
- The Sensory Journey SEN Play Unit – Designed to provide true interactive play, this structure allows children to explore, interact, and engage in meaningful sensory experiences, rather than just moving up and down a ramp. By incorporating tactile, visual, and auditory elements, the unit ensures that every child, regardless of ability, has a purposeful and rewarding play experience.
- Quali Cite Castle Tower Multiplay Unit (2-14 years) – A true Centrepiece; this bespoke Multi play provides a WOW factor when the children enter the play area. Carefully crafted to ensure engagement for multiple age groups, while tying into the Jungle theme, this Bespoke unit is packed with play value and fun for all.
- Braille Alphabet & Number Play Panel – Supporting inclusive and educational sensory play.
- Non-Slip Decking & Stone Base Works (400-500m²) – Providing stability and long-term durability.
- Wetpour Surfacing (428.4m²) in Standard Blue – EN1177-certified for safety, installed in varying thicknesses (40mm, 60mm, and 80mm) to meet fall height requirements.
Key Considerations
A key part of this project was ensuring that wheelchair-accessible elements were designed with a clear objective, providing a goal-driven experience rather than just movement up and down ramps. Caloo took a unique approach by incorporating features that encourage interaction, exploration, and engagement at every stage.
Instead of simply creating access points, the design ensures that wheelchair users can engage in interactive and sensory play at multiple points, making the experience as dynamic and rewarding as possible. This approach makes play more inclusive and engaging for all children, rather than focusing solely on accessibility.
Additional challenges included:
- Bespoke design adjustments to ensure the Quali Cite unit fit within the Jungle theme.
- Tight funding application deadlines, requiring rapid revisions to designs and quotes.
- Working closely with Adventure Valley owners and directors to ensure the final concept was not only practical but also exceeded expectations.
Caloo’s ability to be flexible, responsive, and proactive in design revisions played a huge role in ensuring Adventure Valley’s vision became a reality.
The Impact
The completed play area has transformed Adventure Valley into a leading inclusive play destination, ensuring children of all abilities can experience adventure, sensory engagement, and social interaction.
- A truly inclusive space, where wheelchair users are actively involved in play, rather than just having access.
- A highly engaging multi-age play zone, ensuring families with children of different ages can play together in one space.
- A visually stunning installation, with the Jungle-themed Quali Cite Castle Tower creating a unique, immersive experience.
- Positive recognition from the client, and owners expressing their appreciation for the attention to detail, collaborative approach, and final results.
Client Feedback I have wrote this and will need to contact client to get sign off.
“We loved that Caloo really thought about true play value for wheelchair users, rather than just making the space accessible. Their Sensory Journey unit was unlike anything we had seen before, and the whole process was smooth, fast, and collaborative. The end result is fantastic – children of all abilities can now play, explore, and interact in a way that wasn’t possible before. This project has made a real impact on our farm and our visitors.”
– Farm Tastic Owners & Directors
Thanks to careful design planning, bespoke inclusive play elements, and a strong focus on meaningful accessibility, Caloo has delivered a groundbreaking play area at Adventure Valley. The space ensures all children, regardless of ability, can enjoy a fully immersive, engaging, and adventurous play experience for years to come.