Has anyone had any success in convincing their local authorities to install artificial boulders in outside spaces?
How have the artificial boulders in public places in areas such as Sheffield come about? Were they in response to a request from individuals, manufacturers, or both?
In short, I think there's a great place that some of these things could go and would like to suggest as much to the council but have no idea what the best way of going about it would be. I have no vested interest other than thinking it would be a good idea so I don't intend to spend weeks of my life lobbying the local authority about it.
On a related note does anyone know whether they can be safely installed on a sandy beach?
This has come up before. Here's a reply from Lindsey Houston from the Forestry Commission, who were responsible for boulders in Salford:
"The boulders are expensive £40k up, for a good quality one (there are cheaper versions, but they are mostly play area style ones). They are however robust and will last a long, long time.
Here are a few options/suggestions, which may help in getting one built:
One is to lobby a local councillor, particularly if there is a local councillor who is interested in sports development.
Another is to find out who manages or owns an area of land and talk to them directly. It may be a local council department ( leisure, housing, regeneration or planning & economic development) or another public body (one of the Community Forests, Forestry Commission, Wildlife Trusts, etc.).
There may be active organisations working in the area with a good knowledge of funding streams & local landowners (Groundwork Trust or local action groups) who could help.
There are also funding streams available to special interest groups for sports, play, etc. An individual or group can get money, as long as they have an agreement in place with a landowner to locate a boulder."
_
I would add to this that if you want a boulder with decent training potential, try to make sure climbers are involved every step of the way, especially at the design stage. Often the company responsible impresses the council with a nice looking design which looks good to the council but results in something a bit useless to keen climbers. Ideally, half of the boulder should be devoted to more challenging angles with poor footholds and a variety of interesting handholds (big and small). Otherwise you end up with something that won't get much use.
In reply to alex_nrth:
it is easy but I still splatted myself onto the gravel falling of the mushroom artistically avoiding a child who decided to climb under me....
Still fairly well used, but has suffered from vandalism. The graffitti doesn't affect it much, but some of the pockets have been damaged and the polysterene exposed. Possibly the result of fires being started in them ?
