Bradford Council's playground design competition

The City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council wants to challenge you with the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Peter Hill, launching a competition to design a new outdoor play area.

Newly elected this year as Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Peter Hill has released details of his 2010-11 Lord Mayor's Appeal and he needs your help! Peter has chosen Nell Bank, a top ranked children's outdoor and environmental education centre to benefit from his appeal and is inviting playground designers and landscape architects to submit proposals.

Serving as a trustee at Nell Bank for the past three years, Peter is appealing for a new outdoor play area to replace the one that has been used and enjoyed by around 400,000 children during its 20 year life.

The new area (aimed at 5-12 year olds) will be more inclusive for those with disabilities, it will be roofed for all-weather use and of modular design, so that individual sections can be serviced or improved without affecting the rest of the facility.

About Nell Bank Nell Bank is like a small village offering day and residential outdoor education to a vast number of schools and other community groups across the full age and ability range.

Dedicated staff provide education through enjoyment outside of the traditional classroom setting for around 20,000 of the district's school children every year, regardless of background or physical ability.

Nell Bank has been a favourite charity of the Bradford community since 1977 when it was launched as one of the Queen's Silver Jubilee Trust projects.

The centre looks across the river Wharfe to the famous Ilkley Moor and is surrounded by 110 acres of Oak and Bluebell woodland and dairy farmland.

Activities include pond dipping, orienteering, river studies, nature trails, adventure and education.

The menu is extensive and the possibilities are endless, offering plenty of shelter from the weather.

In 2008, with the help and support of the local community, Nell Bank was crowned Britain's best environment project by the National Lottery and has also been awarded the quality badge for learning outside the classroom.

In 2010 the centre opened a state-of-the-art residential block enabling access for children and young people with a wide range of abilities.

Built from sustainable sources and recycled timber buildings, it is enhanced by an amazing amphitheatre funded by the National Lottery Award.

Recycling and energy saving techniques also are visible throughout the site.

At Nell Bank visitors have the opportunity to consider values which promote the concepts of quality of life and more sustainable lifestyles.

For example: Solar panels heat water in all buildings and 2,000 trees are planted each year by community volunteers; on top of this all the activities encourage teamwork which is integral to the centre's sustainable ethos.

Nell Bank is nationally significant in its approach to inclusion for day visitors, regardless of physical disabilities, sensory impairments, learning difficulties or other additional needs.

It adapts and differentiates equipment and learning experiences so that all can enjoy amazing outdoor experiences together.

Some of the biggest companies in the world have used Nell Bank for team days, and income from commercial groups supports the development of the site and access for community groups with less resources.

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