Featured Project
How Playground Design Transformed a Seasonal Wildlife Park into Year-Round Family Destination
Birdworld in Surrey is the UK’s largest bird park. For years, families visited to see hundreds of bird species and experience conservation education firsthand. But they faced a challenge most seasonal attractions know well: weather dictated their business. Summer brought crowds. Rain and cold months didn’t. It was time for a change.
The team at Birdworld envisioned a year-round destination where children could experience nature through active play regardless of the weather outside, transforming Birdworld from a seasonal attraction into a place families would return to throughout the year. The plan involved two phases: outdoor play that worked with the woodland environment, followed by an indoor play area that solved weather dependency entirely.
Birdworld needed a partner who could deliver both phases as one transformation. Greenspan handled the complete scope across design, engineering, and installation for the outdoor Treetop Adventure in Phase 1 and the indoor Play Barn in Phase 2.
Inside the Play Barn
The 17,000 sq ft indoor space needed to extend the outdoor woodland experience while functioning year-round. The indoor playground design mirrored the Spriglets, woodland sprite characters who appear in both indoor and outdoor spaces, guiding children through nature-based play. The goal was to create an environment that teaches about nature through how children interact with it.
For older children:
- Bird box-inspired climbing structures
- Central net course mirroring the outdoor play area
- Rope bridges, slides, and secret hideaways
- Interactive learning stations and a large bounce net
For toddlers, four themed birdhouses teach through play:
- Peckin’ Nook (Woodpecker): Musical drums and xylophones mimicking communication
- Moon Nest (Owl): Calm sensory space with puzzles
- Paradise Perch (Flamingo): Balance activities encouraging cooperation
- Rainbow Retreat (Parrot): Color and texture matching
The toddler zone weaves these birdhouses together with Spriglet houses marked by distinctive tree trunks. Tunnels wind through the space with musical elements built into the walls, creating pathways for exploration. Soft play areas provide safe spaces for the youngest visitors. Step-free access and wheelchair-friendly routes ensure everyone can navigate comfortably.
Building a Year-Round Revenue Model
Before this redevelopment, Birdworld operated seasonally with revenue concentrated in summer. The custom playground solutions in both outdoor and indoor spaces changed that model. Families now visit year-round regardless of weather, starting indoors during rain and moving outside when conditions allow.
Extended dwell time drives the business impact. Families spending hours instead of quick visits means café sales during meal times, party bookings throughout the year, and deeper engagement with conservation exhibits. The play areas aren’t the primary revenue source. They’re what keeps families on site longer, which drives spending across the venue and makes year-round operation sustainable.
Creating Destinations Through Integrated Play
The Play Barn opened in December 2025, completing Birdworld’s transformation. As Matt Hill, Director of Birdworld, envisioned: a place where children of all ages can explore, learn, and play with nature, whatever the weather.
The approach worked because the partnership and design aligned with the purpose. Greenspan’s teams handled concept through installation as one process, ensuring the vision stayed intact. Design connected authentically to Birdworld’s conservation mission through theming that teaches about nature. Indoor and outdoor together meant families could visit regardless of the weather, thereby reducing seasonal dependence.
For parks and leisure venues facing seasonal challenges, play areas can drive consistent attendance that supports your core operation. Success requires playground companies who deliver complete visions from design through build, theming that connects authentically to your identity, and indoor-outdoor solutions that work across weather conditions. When executed thoughtfully, play becomes what makes sustainable year-round operation possible while strengthening your mission.