Children living in and around the historic city of Lichfield in Staffordshire will soon have a new play facility where they can safely let off steam and have fun. Work is to start shortly on a new play area at a popular visitor attraction in the city. The brand new playground, unveiled by the local Lichfield District Council, is to be created at Stowe Fields, on a grassy area to the side of picturesque
Stowe Pool in the shadow of Lichfield Cathedral. Work to install the new play equipment is expected to start from the middle of June. When completed, the playground will feature a variety of swings, including a basket swing, a 30 metre zip line, two slides, climbing frames, wooden stilts, a spider's net, a fireman's pole, an a seesaw, providing attractions for a range of ages.

An impression of the new playground at Stowe Fields
The equipment will sit on a 320 square metre green and black fleck safety surface, which should help protect children from bumps and scrapes, and is suitable for all weather. Once installed, the area will be re-landscaped to enhance the view from Stowe Pool towards the cathedral. Work to install the playground is expected to take around four weeks, depending on the weather. However, the council does not plan to open it for children to use until social distancing measures, brought in during the coronavirus epidemic, have been put in place. The playground project is set to cost £56,820, which the council is covering with funds it had set aside to improve Stowe Pool and Fields.

Delightful Stowe Pool in Lichfield
Councillor Liz Little, the council's Cabinet Member for Recycling and Leisure, said: "It's wonderful that this project is set to get underway and it looks like it will be a fantastic play area when complete. We know families are really keen to see a better play offering at Stowe Fields and this playground should keep children entertained. When social distancing measures are relaxed in the future, I am sure children will be really excited to use the equipment and get rid of some of their pent up energy." Find out more about Stowe Pool and Fields at
www.lichfieldhistoricparks.co.uk.