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Natural Playground Equipment

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Natural Playground Sets & Equipment - Nature Play Structures By KOMPAN

Natural playground equipment is one of the most effective child development tools that playground designers can utilise. Innately durable and long-lasting, nature based playground equipment strikes a brilliant balance between sturdiness and learning potential, providing children with multiple different learning and engagement opportunities at once. At KOMPAN, our range of natural playground equipment is built upon 50 years of research and experience, enabling us to continually improve and perfect our nature play structures.

Why choose a natural playground?

There are many benefits of a natural playground. Not only does outdoor natural play equipment look great, it also fits in with many surroundings. This makes it ideal for green spaces and parks that don't want to impact the surrounding landscape. Natural playground equipment can also be used in conjunction with what is already on the site, including nature play structures such as:

  • Rocks and boulders

  • Trees and tree stumps

  • Loose materials

  • Digging spaces

  • Water features

  • Natural shelters

  • Small hills, mounds or berms

  • Sensory gardens

Nature playground equipment can be found across the UK, from community parks to camping grounds. Whatever the goal or theme of your playground, natural play structures are sure to look great, as well as offer additional benefits for children of all ages. Explore our range of themed and traditional natural playground equipment below or get in touch with our team for more information.

The most popular nature play products

Tree Climber

NRO834

Tree Climber

4+ years

71 m2

34 Users

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261 products

    Explore our nature play categories

    Robinia Village

    wooden robinia castles reference image

    Robinia Castles

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    Robinia Ships

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    Robinia Climbing

    teenagers playing on a wooden obstacle course playground reference image

    Robinia Obstacle Courses

    a child playing on a wooden balancing playground reference image

    Robinia Balancing

    a child playing on robinia play systems hoops playground reference image

    Robinia Play Systems

    child playing on a robinia sand and water play category reference image

    Robinia Sand & Water Play

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    Robinia Swings

    children playing on robinia wooden spring rockers reference image

    Robinia Springers

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    Robinia Playhuts and Playhouses

    child on a robinia dynamics playground spinner category reference image

    Robinia Dynamics

    robinia play act and learn sensory playgrounds and panels from wood reference image

    Robinia Play, act and learn

    children playing on a robinia themed play playground category reference image

    Robinia Themed Play

    robinia sunshades and furniture people sitting on a wooden bench category reference image

    Robinia Sunshades & Furniture

    Robinia Cableways

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    Nature Expedition

    Robinia Play Panels

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    Robinia Play Structures

    wooden fantasy themed play structures with children

    Robinia Fantasy

    Creating Play Areas with Natural Playground Equipment

    What are the benefits of a natural playground?

    There are many benefits to installing a nature based playground, with mental and physical stimulation being the main two. Nature play structures are also ideal for sites that need to be in keeping with their surroundings, such as nature woodlands, parks, and other green spaces.

    From a cognitive perspective, nature based playgrounds allow young minds to become accustomed to the unusual, rough textures of nature, offering a host of benefits and advantages. Children can build a positive association with nature, built from the experiences they have of playing and engaging with wood, soil and other natural playground surfaces. This is the best way to transition a love of nature into adulthood.

    Additionally, nature playgrounds encourage children to step out of their comfort zone and engage with textures and objects that they have never come across before. This willingness to discover new things is incredibly beneficial, helping boost attainment within school alongside creating positive habits and behaviours that stay with you into adulthood.

    Physical benefits of nature based playgrounds

    There are also physical advantages. The natural versatility of wood makes a brilliant playground equipment material, and KOMPAN’s extensive product selection caters to all manner of physical challenges.

    From obstacle courses and springers to natural playground climbers and commercial wooden swing sets, we have created outdoor natural playground equipment that covers all major ranges. Each of these options permits different development opportunities, allowing children to practice both fine and gross motor skills depending on the specific playground equipment in question.

    Through this, it’s possible to combine nature’s innate cognitive benefits with the developmental strengths offered by other playground equipment designs.

    Natural Play Equipment that can withstand the UK Weather

    We all know what the UK is like. Sunny one day, blistering winds the next! In order to survive in such an unpredictable environment, UK playgrounds need to be able to withstand a beating. KOMPAN have a factory exclusively dedicated to products made of strong and durable Robinia wood. This ensures we always work with the best types of materials and have full control over production to deliver the highest quality to our customers.

    On all Robinia nature play structures, you can choose your finish:

    • Untreated - The unpreserved wood will patina over time blending in with the surroundings

    • Brown Pigment - Maintain the glow of the original robinia

    • Painted - The colourful choice for a unique play solution

    Key Facts about our Nature Play Structures

    • Organic, environmentally friendly and can be FSC certified

    • Naturally occurring preservatives make it resistant to rot, humidity and water

    • Low levels of fabrication give posts natural winding curves and bends

    • Native European wood that is naturally strong and durable

    • Built to last, with up to 15 years' warranty

    We proudly provide natural wooden play structures for UK councils, architects, schools, entertainment and recreation centres, leisure centres, shopping and retail parks and more. Contact us today to discover how we can help you.

    Materials

    As part of our environmental footprint, we introduce Robinia to a range of long-established favourites, like swings and climbing frames and it is perfect for sand and water play. We also use its strength to make wooden gym equipment.

    Your walk with nature play starts here.

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    Frequently asked questions

    What is Robinia?

    Robinia is the tree that gives everything. From replenishing the soil with nitrogen, to burning like coal, providing the source for exceptional honey, to being one of the most dense and versatile timbers. It is also a sustainable source. A native of eastern USA, where it is called black locust, it was introduced to Europe by the king of France’s gardener in 1602. That tree still stands in Square Viviani in central Paris. The tree can now be found growing around the world. In Europe, it is most prolific in Germany, Romania and the Czech Republic. It is the wood of choice for KOMPAN because it brings strength, durability and individuality to each design.

    Which lasts longer, man-made or natural materials?

    The answer in KOMPAN terms is neither – with proper care they both should last a playing ‘lifetime’. Robinia wood has a 15-year warranty. If there is one difference the man-made Ecocore™ has a lifetime guarantee, it looks as good on day one as day 10,000, wood on the other hand matures and can often seem more welcoming with age.

    What kind of after care is needed for Robinia?

    A caring eye is foremost. Being part of nature at KOMPAN we let nature take its course. Most often this adds ‘character’ – the grain and knotting of wood are part of the attraction - but where the natural development might threaten structural safety, the warranty comes into effect.