Pit Yard Play Area

Following a successful fundraising campaign, we were delighted to expand the play area experience at Woodhorn Museum, allowing children of all abilities to play together.

The NEW Pit Yard Play Area features a range of new accessible play equipment, integrated with the original play equipment to encourage children of all abilities to interact and learn through movement, sound, vision and memory. The new equipment includes a new Pairs Game to build memory skills, themed around Woodhorn Museum’s mining heritage; a Ferraphone to introduce music and sound; a Cradle Nest Swing that can accommodate more than one child; Conference Stations to enable children to communicate across the play site; and a wheelchair accessible rotating plate.

The Pit Yard Play Area is accessible by a new wheelchair / pushchair friendly path – with a small slide linking the path with the lower level site. We have also installed new seating to allow parents to relax while being close by.

This experience is included at no additional cost as part of your Museums Northumberland Annual Pass where children can visit for free.

Check the museum’s opening times before you visit.

Sustainably created by Timberplay Ltd:

The Pit Yard Play Area is made from Robinia and Mountain Larch which do not require any chemical treatment and can be used naturally as play equipment. This reduces the carbon footprint and eliminates children’s contact with unnecessary, harmful chemicals.

Timber and production processes have been certified according to CFCS 2002:2013/PEFC D 1003:2013 since 2015. The certificate confirms that processed and treated coniferous sawn timber and logwood comes from sustainably managed forests.

The new play area has been possible thanks to generous funding from:

• SUEZ UK Communities Trust
• The Ridley Family Charity
• Ashington Town Council
• Ecclesiastical Insurance Group
• Morpeth Lions
• A crowdfunder campaign which raised an additional £2,500 from 55 donations.