Adventure Awaits: The Benefits of Trim Trails in Schools
Recently, we’ve had the pleasure of transforming outdoor spaces at Pye Bank School in Sheffield and St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Dudley, creating engaging trim trails that encourage physical activity, confidence, and teamwork.
“We have worked with Play to Measure on a number of projects across two schools over the past year. On each project they have shown fantastic vision and imagination and created some amazing wooden structures for our school environment. Their customer service is second to none. We would not hesitate in recommending Play to Measure to other schools and organisations.”
Trails Designed for Exploration
Each trail features a variety of elements, including swing holds, scramble nets, balance beams, stepping stones, Burma bridges, climbing walls, slalom courses, slack lines, rope walks, and crawl nets. By combining these elements, children develop balance, coordination, strength, and resilience, all while having fun outdoors.
Endless Benefits
Children benefit physically through improved strength, agility, and coordination. They develop social skills as they take turns, support peers, and tackle challenges together. Mentally, Trim Trails encourage problem-solving, risk assessment, and confidence-building, all in the context of active, outdoor play.
Timber That Lasts
We use a variety of durable timbers for our Trim Trails, including Robinia, Oak, and Larch. Not only are these timbers strong and long-lasting, but they also bring natural beauty to the playground. Timber sections that are below ground level are treated with bitumen to resist rot and ensure the structures remain safe and sturdy for years of play.
Surface Matters
We know that safe, durable, and versatile surfacing is key to a successful Trim Trail. That’s why we offer a range of surfacing options including:
Wet Pour Rubber Surfacing – Smooth and resilient, wet pour provides excellent impact absorption and all-weather usability, making it ideal for high-traffic areas.
Grass Matting – A natural-looking surface that blends seamlessly with outdoor spaces, grass matting offers cushioning while preserving the feel of real grass.
Bark Chippings – Eco-friendly and versatile, bark chippings create a softer landing area, absorb impact, and allow water to drain naturally, keeping the play area safer and drier.
A Sensory Trail
In addition to the physical challenges of our Trim Trail, we created a dedicated Sensory Trail at Pye Bank Primary, designed to engage children’s creativity, curiosity, and senses. The trail includes chalk walls, outdoor mirrors, and rounded posts installed with a series of eyelets, allowing the space to be dressed, adapted, and transformed on a daily basis.
To get the sensory play started, an initial dressing kit was provided, featuring hammocks, bunting, camouflage nets, drapes, and a sensory line, giving children the freedom to explore, manipulate, and reshape their environment.
Trim Trails are more than just structures, they’re adventures waiting to be had.
