Berry Hill Park - A complete park redevelopment for Mansfield District Council
Overview:
Our LDE teams combined services from across the divisions to lead a design-and-build project that improves the accessibility of the whole park and enhances the overall visitor experience. This included creating engaging and inclusive play opportunities in the designed playpark and in nature.
Throughout the project, the teams worked closely with the local community by donating excess materials to local community projects and by working with schools to give talks, career advice, and site visits for school pupils and teachers.
Landscape Architecture and Design
- RIBA Work Stages 3 – 7
- Planning applications and associated supporting documents
- Detailed design
- Design and build
Landscaping and Construction
- Biodiversity services
- Commercial hard and soft landscaping
- Play area and sports facilities
- Woodland creation
- Drainage, SuDS, and flood alleviation
- Construction and building of a community hub and café
The project team worked closely with Mansfield District Council to ensure that the project aims were fulfilled, and to keep as much of the park operation as possible.
The construction teams engaged specialists, including:
- KOMPAN playground equipment
- Landscape Architecture by Arkwood Consultants
- Building Architecture by Root and Erect
- Building sub-contractor works by Tanbry Construction
Scope of Works:
Increased accessibility in play areas and nature was one of the key requirements from Mansfield District Council. This involved opening up the woodland areas, which were previously inaccessible, and creating new play areas. Beyond the play area, the project required the construction of a new community hub and café to create a destination and new spaces.
To ensure the park is usable as a destination, the project included a range of infrastructure upgrades, including new car parks, drainage and SuDS upgrades, and all associated biodiversity services to complete the work.
New Community Hub and Cafe
The new café features a modern design with flexible, adaptable spaces and is highly self‑sufficient and sustainable. This enables events, group activities, and community use to operate with low running costs, keeping the space accessible for users and reducing operational risk for Mansfield District Council
The building is internally insulated and uses heat pumps for efficient heating, with discreet roof‑mounted solar panels generating electricity. Large windows maximise natural light, and the structure avoids concrete entirely, using gravel foundations instead.
To further integrate with local communities and businesses, construction on the new community was completed by a local team, Tanbry Construction, under the management of Ground Control.
Access to Woodlands
Prior to project completion, the wooded areas were inaccessible to many, and not useable as a community space. With accessibility and new spaces key to the projects, a new footpath was created through the woodland, which interconnected green spaces that use natural materials to provide seating.
Accessible Play Areas
Designed by play experts KOMPAN, the ‘Mine Shaft’ links to the region’s coal mining culture and heritage, whilst providing multiple opportunities for different ages to play and challenge themselves. As part of the overall scheme, this was managed and installed by Ground Control.
Andy Chambers, Parks Development Officer at Mansfield District Council, commented on the project:
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