Crafting immersive water play to draw visitors - WWT Martin Mere

Children having fun on a sunken trampoline in the WWT Martin Mere play space

When WWT Martin Mere set out to create a new playground, their ambition was clear: to build a captivating, inclusive space for young children to engage with water, nature and one another in a safe and stimulating environment.

The TouchWood Play concept design team got to work crafting a bespoke space that would bring this vision to life; balancing play value, accessibility and the unique wetland character of the site.

Reimagining play with nature at its heart

To bring the wetland experience to life through play, the design centred around one key feature: water. This ambition was realised through the construction of a striking, hand-crafted water rill, inspired by natural streams and glacial formations. This gently flowing channel winds through the space, bringing together sensory water play and imaginative exploration. Constructed from concrete and scattered with glacial boulders, the rill includes sluice gates, splash pools, rain curtains and water pumps, all positioned at accessible heights for wheelchair users and toddlers alike.

Water can be scooped, pooled, pumped and channelled across the play space, inviting children to play collaboratively or independently. Horizontal pulleys and Robinia chutes add tactile, mechanical engagement, encouraging creativity and problem-solving while providing opportunities for parents to get involved in memorable play experiences.

Designing for everyone, with delight and inclusion in mind

Martin Mere’s existing landscape presented several challenges, from the presence of an existing mature tree that needed to be incorporated into the design, to the ambition to create gentle gradients to encourage the flow of water across otherwise flat wetland terrain. We responded with careful ground modelling and thoughtful design interventions, ensuring all pathways, features and gradients were accessible for buggies and wheelchairs.
Inclusive play was central to every design decision. Talking stumps were adjusted to be accessible to toddlers and wheelchair users. In-ground trampolines allow everyone to join in the fun, and the natural mounding and banked slides give younger visitors the thrill of sliding without the need to climb tall structures.

The ripple effect

Since opening, the new play area has become a lively hub of the Martin Mere visitor experience. Staff have reported an increase in visitors rediscovering the adjacent canoe safari, with families spending longer on site and children joyfully returning to the playground again and again.

Delivered within a tight timeline under complex site conditions, the project showcases TouchWood Play’s commitment to nature-led, inclusive design, and our ability to shape unique play environments that reflect and enhance their surroundings.