Playground Shade Sails

Playground Shade Sail Refurbished in Liverpool at Bluebell Park School

We were contacted by Bluebell Park School to help refurbish their much-loved playground shade sail. Installed many years ago, the school felt that the canopy would benefit from replacing the fabric. Now that the shade sail is fitted with a brand-new fabric sail, it looks brand new and has added a pop of colour to the playground. It was important to the school that they replace and look after their sail as it is such a pivotal part of their play area. The shelter allows the young pupils to spend more time outdoors in the fresh air, benefiting and aiding with their emotional, physical and cognitive development. The teachers can also take their classes outside to experience an alternative learning environment to the classroom. Want to read more? Click here to learn more about the fabric sail we installed at Bluebell Park School.

Wistaston Church Lane Academy in Crewe Adds Striking Sails

The children at Wistaston Church Lane Academy now have a new and exciting feature to their school, thanks to the addition of some playground sail shades. These have been added in child-friendly colours of blue, green and yellow, making them stand out on the playground. The students of the school love them as they add some much-needed shade in the summer, allowing them to play even when it’s hot out. The parents love them too, as they add shelter when it’s raining, perfect for them at home time. A&S Landscape has created an excellent multi-use space with the addition of the playground sails, that benefits everyone and makes the playground useable all year round. There’s no denying these shade covers for playgrounds have improved the school grounds at Wistaston Church Lane Academy. They’ve made the playground much more useable for both pupils and parents, so they can be outdoors whatever the weather. Read about the colourful shade sails we installed at Wistaston Church Lane Academy.

Wilkinson Primary School in the West Midlands Add Sail to Play Area

From time to time we get the opportunity to work on truly unique projects and getting to install a sail to a Viking longboat made out of willow was definitely one of these! Wilkinson Primary School got in touch with us to add the finishing touch to the boat they had installed, which would allow the pupils to enjoy the new area more regularly throughout the year. We installed a Maxima Sail™ made to an overall size of 6000mm x 6000mm, complete with a vibrant Poppy coloured sail. The shade sail has been the perfect addition to the boat, adding to the nautical theme. It has also allowed the pupils to get more use of the space as they can shelter from the sun, wind and rain. Click here to see more about the sail shade at Wilkinson Primary School.

St Clare’s RC Primary School in Greater Manchester Add Colourful Canopies

The team at A&S Landscape always gets excited when we work on a project using our Maxima StarSail™ as the photos of the finished canopies always look spectacular. So when we were asked to install a total of four Maxima StarSail ™ canopies at St Clare’s RC Primary School we were thrilled. The school wanted to invest in their outdoor areas to benefit all of the pupils, they also wanted to add some colour to the play areas too. We installed two canopies with Bundena Blue fabric and two with Lime Fizz to inject some real vibrancy into the space. As the perfect finishing touch, we also fitted 12 three-seater benches underneath the shelters. Head over to our project page to see more about the fabric canopies at St Clare’s RC Primary School.

Blue Playground Canopy at Tudor Primary School in Middlesex

Tudor Primary School has a lovely outdoor playground which the pupils love to use during their break times and even during the occasional lesson. To further encourage the children to spend time outside, the staff decided to invest in some playground canopies. The school got in touch with A&S Landscape, a company that have been installing shelters and shade sails for over 40 years. We fitted a Maxima Parasol™ fabric canopy at the school, featuring a Midnight Blue roof and Stainless Steel framework. As this product only uses one upright, it was a great choice for the area to maximise playing space. The school are delighted with the finished canopy and they can now enjoy the play area throughout the year, come rain or shine. Finish reading about the play area cover at Tudor Primary School here.

Old Oak Primary School in London Add Red Playground Shade Sail

What was the project brief?

A child’s play area should be designed with the aim to inspire, excite and delight. This inherent spirit is lodged firmly in the minds of playground designers, who design all play equipment and shade systems with this firmly in mind. The existing outdoor area at Old Oak Primary School in London clearly had the image to induce imagination, however, they knew that the play area was still unfinished. They needed a shade system, not only to fulfil their legal requirement to provide year-round protection from the weather but to develop the area in such a way to spark further curiosity.

They knew what they were doing and exactly what they wanted, a simple covered play area that offered shade protection, allowed access to fresh air while dining, and could be used as a social space with the added wow factor. This is when they called in A&S Landscape to design, build and install their permanent canopy. With the school’s specific needs discussed, A&S Landscape set about sifting through the available shade systems to find the perfect solution and putting a project management plan in place.

What was our canopy solution?

Due to the strong emphasis on the visual appeal of the shelter, we went for a Maxima Sail™ with a cherry red tensile shade cloth. This large structure was built at an impressive 6000mm x 6000mm and is a focal point in its own right within the school grounds. To continue the colourful focus, the steel frame was finished in blue (RAL 5010) and light blue post pads. Altogether the fabric architecture is a spectacular combination of vibrancy. The shade cloth offers 96% UV protection, as well as being an effective barrier for rail, hail and even snow.

This unique solution offers exemplary product quality, having one of the longest guarantee periods on the market, as well as being a trendy addition to any recreational area.

What was the result of their new playground canopy?

Functionally, the result is that of a strong, sturdy free standing shade sail that gives excellent weather protection to children, who can now sit, eat and play underneath. In terms of a child’s imagination and wonder of the world, it goes well beyond that! The intended purpose was to inspire, excite and delight young children and this is exactly what the canopy does.

With these types of shade structures, children are fascinated by the colours and the shapes. Although as adults these details may seem small, these are the wonders that ignite individuality in young children. It truly is one of our leading creative and ingenious solutions, one that we will continue to look back to as inspiration for future projects.

Testimonial / Client Feedback

“Faultless from start to finish, I have already recommended A&S Landscape to two other schools nearby. There were no problems at all!”

Headteacher – Old Oak Primary School

About the client

Old Oak Primary School is located in inner-city London. With the tag line ‘every child, every chance, every day,’ this primary school makes each day count for the children who attend. Although heavily community-based, the school is forever looking to the future, developing and implementing new ways to create the best learning environment.

This was the second time we had collaborated with this school on a canopy project. We were delighted to be called back again, this time providing them with a shade sail shelter that will serve the school for years to come. Hearing their positive feedback yet again has also made us extremely happy. This vibrant primary school is not one we will be forgetting in a hurry!

What is a shade sail?

Shade sail canopies work on the technological basis of a ship’s sail, where shade cloth is tensioned between several anchor points. The upright locations can vary, but they must be positioned in places that allow for the tensile structure to operate effectively.

Using fabric as a natural shade dates back to the time of ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, thus these shade structures are no ‘newbie’ to the world of cover solutions. Like all historical inventions, they have technologically progressed, and are now considered one of the best playground canopy solutions. It is safe to say that shade sails have come a long way since their use at the Colosseum!

Since the 1990s, the quality of the fabric has continued to improve. Degradation from the sun was a common problem with this type of shelter, but it is now common to find shade cloth that comes with a multi-year guarantee. There also exists the more expensive option waterproof PVC or canvas variation. These too are highly effective solutions.

These shade structures have also seen an inherent difference in their design flexibility. The stretch of the high-quality fabric allows for different shapes, and the choice of vibrant colour makes them one of the most highly sought-after products for recreational areas. Another common trend for these outdoor shade structures is to create a large covered outdoor space. They can be perfectly aligned to develop a covered walkway across a courtyard. There are several uses that these shade systems have, give us a call on 01743 444100 if you’d like to discuss more.

Why choose A&S Landscape to install my shade sail?

Fabric shade structures like the shade sail, offer a cost-effective, functional and quirky looking addition to open areas. At A&S Landscape we understand that is not simply the characteristics of the shade systems that are important. It also depends on how each stage of the tensile structure production process is conducted. First, there is detailed planning, then there is the careful manufacturing, and finally, during installation adequate tension needs to be applied onsite to the fabric. That’s why at A&S Landscape we have a specialised, highly-trained team for each part of the process, who are experts in their field.

With our excellent team on hand every step of the way, we are able to offer the best shade structures on the market with the best guarantees. Don’t just take our word for it either, we are known for our 100% customer satisfaction. From cycle shelters to covered sports areas, we have a canopy that will suit your cover needs.

If you would like to discuss any one of our shade systems, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly team on 01743 444100 or at [email protected].

Star Sails Add Colour to Milton Park Primary School in Weston-super-Mare

When encouraging play for young students, it’s important to have the right equipment. This is something that Milton Park Primary School knew, as they had the team at A&S Landscape design some bright and fun shade covers for playgrounds for their property. These shades interconnect with each other, each one creating a ‘star’ shape. Their shape and colours make them a wonderful addition to the playground, as they allow children to play outside come heavy rain or hot sun, without being exposed to the weather. With these playground sail shades in place now, the pupils of Milton Park Primary School are having more fun in their playground than ever before. They’re certainly livening up imaginative play, and keeping them dry when they go outside to burn off some steam between lessons. Now the playground sails are in place, they’ll always have the space to play, no matter the weather. See more information about the sail shades we added at Milton Park Primary School.

Students at Nottingham Girls’ High School Enjoy New Canopy

There’s no denying that pupils of all ages need outdoor space to take breaks in between lessons. When it rains though, they often find themselves cooped up indoors and unable to get that chance to run and play. Nottingham Girls’ High School knew that, and that’s why they contacted A&S Landscape for new fabric playground sail shades for their campus. Installed especially for the nursery pupils, this canopy adds a place for them to play under, even if the weather turns wet. It’s perfect for both children and teachers, as they can run around and burn some energy before it’s time to go back inside. The school has noticed the benefits right away, as the children have taken a liking to the playground sails. They’re the perfect place to play when it starts raining, and they love the unique design. Shade covers for playgrounds have offered this school much more from their outdoor space. See more about the playground sail we installed for Nottingham Girls’ High School.

Hugglescote Primary School in Leicestershire Add Style with A New Sail

The best playgrounds aren’t just a large space for children to run around in, they’re also a great way to fuel their imaginations as they play. Hugglescote Primary School know that, and that’s why they had their new playground sails installed recently. These playground sail shades add so much depth to the playground, offering much more play value to the area. The sails are in bright shades of blue, yellow and orange, which has made the area it covers so attractive to the pupils as they play. It could be anything, from a treehouse to a pirate ship, in their imaginations. It’s so important to encourage children in imaginative play, and these shade covers for playgrounds certainly do that. They also ensure that play never stops, as the rain won’t reach children playing under the shades. If you want shades for your playground, there are lots to choose from. Click here to read more about the shade covers we installed at Hugglescote Primary School.

A Smart New Shade for Montgomery Primary Academy in Birmingham

There are so many ways that the right shade can benefit your school. Montgomery Primary Academy is a perfect example. After they contacted us to install a new shade, we to create a smart and creative new shade in their playground. The new playground sails are designed to be waterproof, so they are the best place for children to play when the weather is wet. With so much of the year proving to be rainy, you still want to get pupils outdoors to play. These waterproof playground sail shades are proving to be the best way of doing that. What’s also notable about these shade covers for playgrounds is that the navy blue colour complements the school exterior perfectly. It fits in with the rest of the building, making it a great way to add shade and keep the look of the grounds consistent. Find out about the sailshade installed at Montgomery Primary Academy.

Monkston Primary School in Milton Keynes Installs A Fun New Sail Replacement

There are many schools out there that understand the importance of outdoor space, and Monkston Primary School is one of them. They already had a well designed outdoor space for the pupils to explore and learn in, which had a sail. However, it was getting old and they needed something new. They turned to our team to help them create something new. A bright yellow playground sail was added, which cheers up the space considerably. There are playground sails in all kinds of colours, so if you’re looking for something similar you’re sure to find what you need. These playground sail shades have given the children of Monkston Primary School a brand new space to play in. It gives them a lot of freedom, as they can go outside whatever the weather and really enjoy the recreation space whenever they want. Shade covers for playgrounds are becoming a popular option, and with this installation you can see why. Learn more about the sail we added to Monkston Primary School.

Yellow Fabric Canopy at Locharbriggs Primary School in Dumfries

As a national supplier of shelters and canopies, we often get to work all over the country, from schools in Devon to Dumfries. For this project, we were required to work all the way up in Scotland at Locharbriggs Primary School. The school was looking to add some shelter to their playground as the wet and windy weather would often put a dampener on break times. They wanted a solution that would be sturdy enough to withstand the rough weather conditions but also work with the surrounding playground. A&S Landscape had the perfect product in mind with the Maxima StarSail™, a stylish fabric canopy popular with schools. Finished with a Lemon coloured fabric, the canopy has been the perfect addition to the playground. Read more about the fabric shelter we designed for Locharbriggs Primary School here.