Brooklands Play Area Welcomes its new Residents
If you go down to the new Brooklands development in Milton Keynes today, you may not spot any teddy bears but you will meet a whole variety of new animal inhabitants.
The children's play area is now home to a menagerie of larger
than life wooden creatures, specially commissioned for the
site. They have all been created by renowned wood sculptor,
John Wakefield, whose carved figures can be seen in public spaces
all over the country. The animals are big enough to climb or
sit on and the artist says he loves producing pieces for children
because, "once they climb up on their and their imagination takes
flight it can take them anywhere."
The animals include a water vole, a mole, a hare, a frog and a
giant bee. John says those particular creatures were
not chosen randomly.
"The developers at Brooklands, Places for People, have
taken such care and put so much effort into designing those so
important green spaces on the site that I wanted them to have
something which truly belonged there," he says. "We did a bit
of research to find out what creatures might actually live at
Brooklands and those are the ones we have made."
The cuddly creatures are soft to the touch but should be there
for children to enjoy for decades to come. "We bought a
coastal redwood tree from the Longleat Estate, where the safari
park is, because the wood is so durable but soft to the
touch." He also says redwood very rarely splinters and over
time, as lichens grow on the animals they will blend into their
surroundings, "as if they've always been there."
Places for People Project Director, Simon Elcock, says, "We have
put a great deal of thought and effort into the green spaces at
Brooklands because they are so important in making the difference
between a place to live and a community of homes. We're
really delighted with John's animals and they are perfectly
at home in the children's play area which is going to be a
wonderfully exciting place for them for many years to come."
Brooklands is set in 360 acres and will eventually include 2,
500 homes, schools, shops and offices, all surrounded by landscaped
areas, sports facilities and countryside walks. The marketing
suite and show homes are open seven days a week from 10.00 am until
5.00 pm.
