Apple Harvest Adventure Play at Applewood Countryside Park

The existing play space has been well loved but was in need of an update. Our all new Apple Harvest Adventure Playground created an apple themed playspace that has something to offer for a wide range of ages.

The theme for the play draws on the history of the site as a former Apple Orchard. It's a bold and colourful themed play sculpture that offers bags of physical and sensory play value and incorporates the existing ground play trail. It is located next to a beautiful large tree that offers shade to the toddler play and loops back to connect to the campsite pathways to the north.

The designated toddler play area is comprised of 4 super-sized apple crates stacked together to create an “Apple Crate Cubby’ complete with access ladder and peek-a-boo windows and a slide deck accessed via clamber ramp. A ground play trail of flowers and stalks is appealing to all ages and provides opportunity for weaving, balancing, hopping and clambering.

The more challenging play for the older kids (and adults) comes in the form of the Apple Harvest Tractor. This sits close to the main path and provides a striking entrance to the play space to entice children in. Physical challenges include a clamber ramp, climbing wall, slide and monkey bars whilst slower play opportunities come in the form of a drivers wheel for role play and tractor wheel cubby for relaxing in and chatting with friends.

The design process

With the design brief agreed as creating play with a rustic country feel, The material palette for the ‘Apple Harvest Adventure Play’ combines neutral, natural materials with pops of colour creating a jolly country aesthetic.

When it came to working up the design and looking at the material, rough sawn larch boards deck the play structures, with larch cladding to the walls, neutral netting and rope balustrades. The giant tractor components are painted in bright bold colours allowing its form to be better defined. A harvest of rosy red ‘apples’ sits on top of the trailer creating an immersive play space too. The flower toppers to the painted ground play posts were also be added to the existing groundplay trail that sits behind to tie the two play areas together.

You can see how the play began to come to life through these initial sketches.

Background

Applewood Countryside Park is a hugely popular family‑run caravan, camping, and glamping site just outside Banham, Norfolk. Set in approximately 13 acres of rolling countryside, the park’s history reflects a transformation from traditional farmland to a carefully curated holiday destination known for comfort, community, and countryside charm.

Over many years, it has become a go to destination for any camper visiting Norfolk, from tent pitches to glamping pods, lone walkers to rally groups. It has something for everyone and was recently recognised as the Glamping, Camping Holiday Park of year by the East of England Tourism
Awards.

As a summary of what it has to offer. There are 110 Electric pitches, with hard standing available. There are a number of designated accessible pitches, close to the facilities and for the luxury end of the market, shepherd's cabins. There are also cosy glamping pods. The whole site is (friendly) dog friendly and there is free wifi for guests. As a guest, you can also get discount access to Banham Zoo next door.