Published on Friday 24 October 2025
Future knights of the realm have got a new and improved play area at which to hone their skills following major refurbishment works at Queen’s Park.
To mark the revamped play offering a launch event will take place early next week - from 10am on 28 October - with children and young people encouraged to attend and get a first taste of the new equipment.
Queens Park will be offering 10% off all food and drinks at the event in both the golf shop and café – so there is something for everyone to enjoy on the day!
Work has been done to repair the existing fort structure using recycled plastic and groyne timbers alongside a brand new multi-play climbing frame and replacement swings. Even more people will be able to make the most of the play area and café facilities with a repaired access ramp giving greater accessibility.
Decking for the fort and access ramp has been made from roughly 450,000 recycled plastic bottles whilst felled trees, that were dead or dangerous, have been repurposed into four new balance beams; and, best of all, the wobble bridge is back in full glory!
The refurbished play area plays a vital part of the Council’s commitment to provide high-quality, inclusive and accessible play areas for communities across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
Cllr Sandra Moore, Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Play Strategy at BCP Council, said: “This is a fantastic example of how collaboration between passionate councillors and community groups can help deliver for residents.
“The benefits of play are so much more than just in the moment - it’s the freedom of learning and growing outside of school, and it’s so important we provide those same building blocks for development to future generations.
“I’m really pleased to see this exciting new chapter for Queen’s Park come to fruition and this is just the start – our greenspaces team are hard at work putting play areas back at the heart of local communities across our towns.”
Improvements have been made possible thanks to a £73,000 grant from Veolia Environmental Trust’s Landfill Communities Fund, alongside funding from the BCP Plan for Play, getting to work to ensure the play area, café, and toilets are inclusive for the whole community.
Working in partnership with Queens Park and Charminster Neighbourhood Forum, feedback from a public consultation helped deliver a successful funding bid.
The consultation highlighted the importance of the Woodpecker Play Area to the wider community - with 99.7% of respondents saying the place was an important local facility.
Cllr Alasdair Keddie, ward councillor for Queen’s Park, said: “I am delighted that the Woodpecker Play Area is re-opening, bigger, better and with more fun equipment for the children to engage with. This has been a brilliant community partnership between BCP Council and the Queen's Park & Charminster Neighbourhood Forum.
“Securing extra grant funding from the Veolia Community Trust was a vital part of this and I'm pleased to have been able to bring that to the table. This really shows what can be achieved when we work together.”