We want to create a vibrant and challenging play experience that will encourage the children of Burpham, Wepham and Warningcamp to abandon their tablets and Xboxes and get out into the fresh air to have fun together. This is a beautiful part of the South Downs National Park and many visiting families with children will also benefit. The new equipment will fall into two groups - play for 1 to 5 year olds and play for the 6 to 12s and we aim to include facilities for children with learning and mobility difficulties. We will salvage and upgrade some of the existing equipment to meet current Health and Safety standards. We will create a safe and attractive area with seating so that children and their parents and grandparents can share the joy of play and exploration in this beautiful and historical location. Our ambition is to involve and enthuse as many local residents as possible so that we end up with a playground of which we can all be proud.

What we'll deliver:

• Install some new and tempting equipment and surfacing
• Add more seating to make it a family-friendly space
• Create a user-friendly and exciting play space for the whole family to enjoy

Why it's a great idea:

This project has real power to make a big difference to our rural village community and to the amenities we can offer our children and grandchildren. It already has the support of the village committee and there is a strong collective will amongst the residents of Burpham, Wepham and Warningcamp to make this happen. Currently, our playground is significantly under-used because of its run-down condition and because it does not have any accessible facilities for disabled children. Apart from the swings, we have no equipment that enables children to play together and we want to create a space where more children can use the playground at the same time. We want our children to have an imaginative playground to enjoy here in Burpham, without having to travel several miles to Arundel or beyond. Being aware that we are visited by children with special needs, we want to include equipment that they can play on easily.

Steps to get it done:

• Consult with local residents (both adults and children) on what kind of playground they would like
• Draw up a brief and consult with various equipment suppliers
• Obtain designs and quotations
• Present designs and quotations to the village committee and all village residents
• Decide on the preferred design and inform the chosen equipment supplier
• Raise the required funds and regularly update local press and supporters
• LiaIse throughout with English Heritage regarding the sensitivity of the site
• Commission the supplier to install the equipment, surfacing and fencing
• Arrange an Opening Ceremony for the 3 villages and a party for the children

We think that in this age of technology and fast food, imaginative play outdoors is absolutely vital for the good health and wellbeing of all children. An attractive and exciting playground will help parents and grandparents to engage with their children in the fresh air and to teach them about nature and the historic setting of the playground. We see this as a way of drawing the 3 communities of Burpham, Wepham and Warningcamp closer together and this will be hugely beneficial, both in the short term and the long term, when rural villages such as we are need to support each other in all our activities