The value of our green spaces, commons and play areas in Elmbridge cannot be underestimated. They provide us with physical and mental wellbeing. They allow us to walk our dog. They allow our children to be brave and clamber to the top of the climbing frame. They allow us to meet up with friends and family and to be around other people. They allow us to play sport, imagining we will one day win that trophy.

It is our Green Spaces and Countryside Teams who maintain and enhance the 550 hectares of green space and commons in Elmbridge. They plan and plant, they weed and work to ensure these cherished green spaces are preserved for us all to enjoy.

In 2022 we began the roll out of a play area refurbishment programme. A four year programme to enhance a number of play areas in Elmbridge in conjunction with the play strategy that we launched in 2021.

Emma Campbell, Green Spaces Manager tells us how the refurbishment programme has developed:

“Our key priority is always the safety of equipment in our play areas but of course we want the children to have fun too. With that in mind, we commissioned an independent assessment of the play areas in the borough (there are 33 of them) to allow us to identify the refurbishment needed over the few next years. Working with parents, carers and schools, we will agree and replace individual equipment in these play areas to ensure our children have safe and enjoyable spaces to climb, slide, swing and laugh.”