Supplier Partnership
At Worldwide Kids, we believe in the transformative power of play — particularly the kind that happens outdoors, in nature, and led by a child’s own imagination. As specialists in creating luxury childcare experiences for leading resorts and destinations, we’ve seen first-hand how outdoor play supports wellness, creativity, and meaningful connection.
It’s why we partner with like-minded organisations who share our belief that play is powerful. One of those organisations is TouchWood Play, a UK-based company renowned for crafting bespoke natural playgrounds that invite children to explore, discover, and grow through sensory-rich, immersive experiences.
TouchWood Play’s philosophy is about bringing nature into play and making wellness a core part of every childhood journey. In this feature, we shine a spotlight on their inspiring work, sharing their words directly as they talk about their mission, their designs, and why nature play is more important than ever.
At Worldwide Kids, our clients are actively seeking innovative outdoor play solutions — and as one of our valued suppliers, TouchWood Play delivers exactly that. We sat down with the team to talk about the power of nature play and how they’re bringing it to life.
TWP: Nature play is a child-led, freely chosen outdoor activity that involves interaction with natural elements like trees, rocks and water. It’s about giving children the freedom to explore, discover and connect with the natural world on their own terms, rather than structured, adult-directed play.
In today’s fast-paced, tech-driven world, meaningful opportunities for children to engage with nature are sadly declining behind the lure of screens. Yet research consistently demonstrates the many benefits of outdoor play: improved physical health, emotional resilience, enhanced cognitive abilities and richer social interactions. Nature play fosters curiosity, problem-solving skills, imagination, creativity and environmental awareness; it lays the foundation for a more balanced, holistic childhood. It engages all five senses, stimulating brain development in a way that digital devices never can.
TWP: All our teams from sales and design to manufacture and installation, believe passionately in these principles. During the design process, we use natural materials sourced sustainably from local suppliers where possible. This ensures each playground blends seamlessly with its environment while nurturing children’s natural connection to the outdoors.
We also look for opportunities to include natural materials such as sand, water or pea gravel into the designs, with equipment like pulley systems, boards with chutes, pits full of loose material, for the children to explore and engage with. Our goal isn’t just to entertain children, but to educate and inspire.
TWP: Our ethos is rooted in the idea of ‘playing naturally.’ We place a strong emphasis on open-ended, imaginative play. Rather than dictating how play should happen, our playgrounds encourage children to invent their own adventures.
Every play space we create is uniquely tailored to its landscape, whether this involves a giant Zeus climbing structure in a Greek island resort, adhering to intellectual property such as at Hobbledown Heath, or incorporating an icon of historical significance on a country estate. We aim to deliver sensory-rich environments that engage children’s physical, social and imaginative instincts.
TWP: A great example is Hobbledown Heath Adventure Park. This immersive playground really showcases our commitment to sustainable, imaginative play. The design features giant climbing structures, exhilarating slides and bespoke play elements crafted from natural materials. The different structures within the park mimic the style from the Hobbledown book that the parks are based on.
The site also includes interactive water play, sand pulley and chute systems, pea gravel pits and stunning willow-covered towers, which evolve over time and with the seasons. It’s a multi-sensory, beautiful environment that has become a vital community hub, nurturing the next generation’s passion for nature.
TWP: Yes, we’re currently bringing to life the Zuhha Island Kids’ Club, a major international project in collaboration with Zaya, the developers behind Al Barari and Hameni in the UAE.
Set within the lush landscape of Zuhha Island resort, the Kids’ Club is still in the manufacturing phase, but it will offer over 3,000m² of outdoor and multi-tiered indoor play experiences. Planned features include sand play treehouses with interactive pulleys, epic tube slides and intricate water features designed to draw children into a world of exploration and creativity.
TWP: Absolutely. We strive to use materials closest to their natural form and of the highest quality as possible to create imaginative and immersive play environments that are built to last for generations of children.
All our timber is untreated and locally sourced where possible. We often seek naturally felled timbers and use trees from managed woodlands. We use European-sourced Robinia for our structural elements, which is renowned for its incredible durability, particularly when fixed into the ground. It has a golden hue which naturally silvers over time and marries beautifully with our kiln-dried larch cladding to create timeless and enduring pieces of equipment.
We aim to create play spaces that contribute positively to both their natural surroundings and the children who use them. When kids interact directly with natural elements, they build a lasting respect for the world around them. Through our designs, we hope to inspire a future generation that’s deeply connected to and invested in the planet.
TWP:Over the coming year we are working on more international projects, both in Europe and further afield, while still being committed to helping UK-based schools to bring learning outside, town councils create beautiful community spaces, and holiday resorts to attract families to make memories. We have recently become an approved vendor for Marriott and look forward to working closely with this internationally renowned business to enhance their guests’ experiences.
Whether it’s Hobbledown Heath or the upcoming Zuhha Island Kids Club, we’re committed to designing playgrounds that spark joy, strengthen community, and promote environmental responsibility. Every project reflects our mission; to create exceptional play spaces that capture imaginations, nurture development and reconnect children with nature. Through thoughtful design and sustainable craftsmanship, we aim to lead the way in nature-inspired play, enriching lives and communities around the globe.
WK: We couldn’t agree more. At Worldwide Kids, we’re proud to work alongside TouchWood Play and others who share our belief that play should be powerful, natural and joyful.
Ready to Transform Your Resorts’ Outdoor Play Offering?
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