A COMPETITION to find a design for a potential new playground in Monmouth has attracted more than 200 entries.

Monmouth children have designed their dream playground in a competition being judged by famous children’s illustrator, Axel Scheffler, whose work includes the illustrations for the Gruffalo books, Room on a Broom and Stick Man.

The entries from the competition, organised by Friends of Chippenham Mead, will help inspire the design for the proposed new ‘destination playground’ for Chippenham Mead in Monmouth.

Friends of Chippenham Mead chairwoman, Rachel Jupp, said: “The response from Monmouth’s children has been amazing. There are so many brilliant ideas: It’s going to be very hard for Axel Scheffler to chose the winners!

“We’re looking closely at every single entry and using them to form our design. This will be a new playground for Monmouth’s children, so it’s only right they have a big say in what goes in it."

Monmouthshire County Council has allocated £85,000 of S106 monies from developers to spend on a destination playground for Chippenham Mead in Monmouth, a sum that Friends of Chippenham Mead are looking to add to.

Over the next couple of months, MCC will be considering two proposals, one to refurbish the existing site and the other for a new site away from the A40 and more accessible to the town. The second proposal is being developed by Friends of Chippenham Mead, whose design will take inspiration from the ideas of local children that have been set out in these competition entries.  

The competition, which invited children to design their dream playground, received 210 entries. Axel Scheffler will be selecting the winners, who will receive prizes provided by Green & Jenks, Raglan Farm Park, and No.37 Toy Shop.

Rachel said “We’re really grateful to Axel for agreeing to act as judge. He’s told us he was happy to help and that it seems a very worthwhile initiative."

Friends of Chippenham Mead is a charity set up to help maintain and improve Monmouth’s village green. Their aim is to encourage thoughtful custodianship and encourage activities that are true to the character and community purpose of the Green. Their belief is that Chippenham Mead should offer all Monmouth’s residents and visitors a beautiful natural space in which to enjoy recreational activities.

Membership of Friends of Chippenham Mead is open to everyone who supports their charitable aims. Anyone wanting to join should email [email protected]