Priory Park's newly revamped play area has been officially opened with a formal ribbon cutting ceremony.

The opening event took place on Thursday 5 May, at the new state-of-the-art play area, in Priory Park, Great Malvern.

The ribbon was officially cut by Cllr Cynthia Palmer, Chairman of Malvern Hills District Council.

Building works on the new eco-friendly play area began in November last year.

Malvern Hills District Council worked with specialist play equipment company, Flights of Fantasy, on the design, along with Avery Landscapes Limited, who were the main contractor for the project.

The play area uses sustainable timber, planting and materials to give a natural and rustic feel, while also allowing for a range of play.  

The new play area has sustainable timber, planting and materials to give a natural and rustic feel, while also allowing for a range of play.

Children will be able to climb on natural boulders, crawl through hobbit holes, hide in a hollow tree trunk, walk across a rope bridge, swing on a basket swing and even meet a giant dragonfly.

In attendance at the event were Jon Avery Director of Avery Landscapes, Russell Bowlby Director of Flights of Fantasy together with Flights of Fantasy Designer Hayley Booth, Jane Smith from Friends of Priory Park, Vic Allison Chief Executive of Malvern Hills District Council, Cllr Peter Whatley and Chairman Cllr Cynthia Palmer.

Cllr Peter Whatley, Portfolio Holder for Resources at Malvern Hills District Council, said: “Everyone at Malvern Hills District Council is delighted with this unique, eco-friendly play area. The natural materials used complement the beauty of Priory Park well. It has already proved a huge popular success, drawing in visitors to Malvern from a wide area, boosting the town centre economy. It's great to see so many residents and visitors enjoying this incredible space and we hope more will visit the Malvern Hills.”

Russell Bowlby, Director of Flights of Fantasy said: “We found it a great privilege to be involved in this unique project, and to design and build it as eco-friendly as it can be.”

Jon Avery, Director of Avery Landscapes said: “The end result is a total transformation and something we are really proud of. It's unique and there's nothing like this around here, it's not just a play area, it's something for the shops and restaurants in the town centre to indirectly benefit from too.”

ENDS

Picture 1: Cllr Peter Whatley, Portfolio Holder for Resources at Malvern Hills District Council and Cllr Cynthia Palmer, Chairman of Malvern Hills District Council cutting the ribbon.

Picture 2: Russell Bowlby and Hayley Booth from Flights of Fantasy, Cllr Cynthia Palmer, Chairman of Malvern Hills District Council, Cllr Peter Whatley, Portfolio Holder for Resources at Malvern Hills District Council, Jane Smith Friends of Priory Park Malvern, Jon Avery from Avery Landscapes, Jason Yarwood Building Surveyor from Malvern Hills District Council.