Case Study: Haddon Primary School – Outdoor Fitness and Trim Trail Installation, Nottingham
- Absolute Play
- Feb 28
- 2 min read
📌 Project snapshot
Sector: Education
Age range served: KS1 & KS2
Key project drivers: Replace ageing and underused trim trail equipment, improve accessibility to outdoor fitness equipment and create a dedicated space focused on strength, coordination and physical activity, while working within a very tight budget and limited available space.
Equipment type: Timber Trim Trail Equipment
Surfacing: Play-grade artificial grass and bonded rubber mulch safety surfacing.
Budget: £35-40k
Project summary - Trim Trail Installation
This project delivered a compact but highly effective outdoor fitness and physical play space, designed to support strength, coordination and active play.
By combining trim trail equipment with gym-style elements and installing all-weather safety surfacing, the space has been transformed into a dedicated fitness zone that can be used year-round.
The brief
The school’s existing trim trail equipment had deteriorated and no longer provided a suitable or engaging fitness opportunity.
The school wanted to:
Remove old and unsafe equipment
Improve access to fitness equipment
Create a space focused on physical development
Ensure year-round usability
Deliver the project within a very limited budget
Maximising play value within a compact footprint was essential.
Our solution
Our solution focused on creating a flowing fitness circuit that combines climbing, balancing and upper-body strength challenges.
By integrating trim trail elements with gym equipment, the space now provides a wide range of physical challenges suitable for different abilities.
Key equipment
Linking Timber Trim Trail, featuring:
Balance beams
Rope crossings
Log rope challenges
Traverse wall
Rope nets
Tarzan traverse
Outdoor fitness equipment, including:
Monkey bars
Parallel bars
Roll over bars
Twist net climber
These elements support strength, coordination, grip strength and confidence.
Design approach:
The design focused on creating a compact but highly functional fitness zone.
The layout allows pupils to move continuously between equipment, creating a natural circuit that encourages sustained physical activity.
New artificial grass surfacing was installed to improve accessibility and allow the space to be used throughout the year, while bonded rubber mulch was retained and refreshed to provide safe fall protection.
The design also ensured the new equipment complemented the existing fitness provision, maximising the value of the investment.
Materials & surfacing
Play-grade artificial grass was installed to create a clean, durable and all-weather fitness surface.
Bonded rubber mulch surfacing was also installed and refreshed, providing:
Excellent impact absorption
Long-term durability
Low maintenance performance
A natural appearance
All equipment was manufactured using high-quality, pressure-treated timber and steel components.
Installation
Works included removal of existing equipment, preparation of new sub-bases and installation of new trim trail and fitness equipment.
Ground levels were improved to create a safer and more usable space.
The project was delivered efficiently, transforming the area into a dedicated fitness zone.
The outcome
The finished installation provides a fantastic outdoor fitness facility that supports physical development, strength and coordination.
Despite budget and space constraints, the transformation has been significant, creating a highly engaging and practical space.
The new facility ensures pupils can access outdoor fitness opportunities all year round.
Looking to create something similar?
Creating dedicated outdoor fitness spaces can have a huge impact on pupil health, confidence and engagement. Whether you’re working with a small area or limited budget, our team can help design a solution that delivers maximum value. Get in touch to discuss your project.
Get in touch: 01482 762374
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