Nature Play Solutions

What Nature Play Solutions does

Nature Play Solutions is a Western Australian, Perth-based design-and-build firm founded in 2011 by Chris and Emma Lawrence that specialises in nature-based play environments for institutional clients. Its core service is the consultative design and construction of flexible, open-ended play spaces — integrating landform, vegetation, sensory elements, loose parts and natural materials — for K-12 schools, early learning and childcare centres, local government public open space, and indoor or urban sites. Service delivery spans concept design, master-planning, community consultation, construction documentation, and on-site build, with a multidisciplinary team spanning landscape architecture, occupational therapy, playwork, education, horticulture, public art and skilled trades.

The company monetises across three streams: project-based design/build contracts for schools, early learning operators and local governments; recurring capability-building services — OPAL (Outdoor Play & Learning) accredited mentorship over 12–18 months, playwork mentoring, professional learning workshops, and OPAL audits; and a small consumer/B2B product line of tactile play components such as Messy Mud Mix (proprietary sand blend packaged in 15kg retail or 1m³ bulk bags) and timber offcuts for loose parts play. Pricing for design/build is quote-based per project; workshops scale to school size; audits and mentoring are quoted per engagement. Distribution is primarily direct, consultative field sales supplemented by WALGA Preferred Supplier status for Western Australian local government tenders, plus a dedicated website, Facebook and Pinterest presence, and multi-association industry memberships (Play Australia, International Play Association, Parks & Leisure Australia, AILA, International Schools Grounds Alliance) that drive top-of-funnel awareness.

The company has won multiple Parks & Leisure Australia awards at state and national level — including the 2019 national award for Newdegate Active Precinct (Under $0.5M) — and has delivered named projects for clients such as Nido Early School, PLC, Sacred Heart Primary School, Greenwood Primary School, Aquinas College, the Shire of Lake Grace, and the Touched by Olivia Foundation (Pia's Playground, Whiteman Park). In March 2021 the firm suspended its incursions program and Loose Parts Play Network following the departure of the long-tenured primary playworker and COVID-19 uncertainty; the design/build, product, and capability-building lines remain operational from its Kewdale headquarters and workshop.

Name

Nature Play Solutions

Legal name

Nature Play Solutions

Website

https://natureplaysolutions.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Nature Play Solutions is a Western Australian firm that designs and builds nature-based play spaces and delivers capability-building programs (OPAL mentorship, workshops, audits) for schools, early learning centres, local governments and indoor/urban clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Play Space Design Services

NAICS

Landscape Architectural Services (541320), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Early Childhood & Playground Equipment (Play Structures, Soft Play, Safety Surfacing) (EDAEAIAF)

Keywords

• Nature play design
• Playground construction
• Outdoor play spaces
• Landscape architecture services
• Sensory play products

Headquarters

HQ city

Perth

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Play Space Design & Build Services: Project-based fees for the design and construction of nature-based play spaces for schools, early learning centres, and public open spaces. Includes design documentation, community consultation, and construction services. Revenue is generated through fixed-price project contracts.
2. Play Components Sales: Sale of tangible play components including Messy Mud Mix bags (15kg and 1 cubic metre bags) and timber offcuts. Products are sold individually or in bulk for fundraising purposes.
3. OPAL Mentorship Program: Accredited OPAL mentor program running over 12-18 months, providing strategic support to schools and children's services to develop play policy and implementation plans.
4. Professional Learning Workshops: Professional development sessions for teachers and educators covering play perspectives, play and the brain, loose parts play, importance of risk in play, and playwork principles. Priced based on school size.
5. Playwork Mentoring: On-site playwork mentoring and consultation services tailored to the needs of schools, supporting teaching staff, educational assistants and management. Available as one-to-one or group work.
6. Outdoor Play & Learning Audits: OPAL-accredited audit service for assessing outdoor play and learning provision in education and care settings. Includes a certificate of recognition and summary report.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Nature Play Solutions designs and builds nature-based play spaces for schools, early learning centres, public open spaces, and indoor/urban environments across Western Australia. The company complements its core design and build services with capability-building offerings including professional learning workshops, playwork mentoring, OPAL-accredited audits, and the OPAL Outdoor Play & Learning mentorship program, plus sale of sensory play components such as Messy Mud Mix and Timber Offcuts.

Product overview

Nature Play Solutions is a nature-based play space company offering a portfolio of services centered around play space design and construction across four key settings (schools, early learning, public open space, and indoor/urban environments). The company complements its core design/build services with tangible play products (Messy Mud Mix, Timber Offcuts), capability-building services (Outdoor Play & Learning Audit, Playwork Mentoring, Professional Learning Workshops, and the OPAL mentorship program), and previously offered Incursions (currently on hold). The portfolio is unified by a commitment to nature-based, open-ended play opportunities for children.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Play Space Design + Build Nature-based play space design and construction services tailored to specific settings, including schools, early learning centres, public open spaces, and indoor/urban environments. Includes new builds, refurbishments, master-planning, and community-build programs.
• OPAL - Outdoor Play & Learning Program Accredited 12-18 month structured mentorship program that helps schools and children's services develop play policy, action plans, and implementation steps. Nature Play Solutions operates as an accredited OPAL provider.
• Professional Learning Workshops Professional development sessions for educators covering Perspectives on Play, Play and the Brain, Loose Parts Play, Importance of Risk in Play, and Playwork Principles. Pricing varies by school size.
• Playwork Mentoring On-site support and guidance for play supervision, addressing play culture questions, rule consistency, and risk management. Tailored to needs of teaching staff, educational assistants, and management; available as one-to-one or group work.
• Outdoor Play & Learning Audit Accredited OPAL audit service that assesses outdoor play and learning provision in education and care settings. Takes approximately two hours and results in a certificate of recognition and summary report.
• Messy Mud Mix (Fundraising Mud Mix) 15kg bags of a proprietary combination of sands designed to provide a sensory play experience, suitable for watering into lawn for easy cleanup. Available in 15kg bags ($20 individually or $14 bulk) and 1 cubic metre bulk bags ($540 plus delivery).
• Timber Offcuts (Loose Parts) Timber offcuts sold for loose parts play, available in box ($50), car boot ($80), or ute tray/trailer ($120) sizes. Can be stored outdoors in any weather.

Quantifiable outcome

• Winner of the Parks & Leisure Australia 2019 National Award for Best Playspace Project (Under $0.5M) for the Newdegate project — national recognition of quality.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Skate SculptureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Skate Sculpture on the Newdegate Active Precinct project, which won the Parks & Leisure Australia 2019 National Award for Best Playspace Project (Under $0.5M). Skate Sculpture contributed skate park elements to the mixed-use nature play and skate facility.
• The Shire Of Lake GraceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner with Nature Play Solutions on the Newdegate Active Precinct project. The Shire commissioned the award-winning nature play and skate park facility for the Newdegate community.
• Touched by Olivia FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with the Touched by Olivia Foundation on Pia's Playground at Whiteman Park — an inclusive playspace designed by Wendy Seymour (Nature Play Solutions) for people of all abilities.
• International Schools Grounds AllianceminorOthersKerry Logan (Nature Play Solutions Outdoor Playground Consultant) is a member of the International Schools Grounds Alliance Leadership Council and contributed to developing a Position Statement on Beneficial Risk in School Grounds.
• Play AustraliacoreOthersNature Play Solutions team members (including Kerry Logan and the late Wendy Seymour) are members of Play Australia. The company aligns its approach to play with Play Australia's philosophy and guidelines.
• International Play AssociationcoreOthersNature Play Solutions team members (Kerry Logan and Wendy Seymour) were active members of the International Play Association, which advocates for the right to play globally.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Richter Spielgeräte: German manufacturer specialising in nature-based and timber playground equipment with growing Australian project presence. Highly comparable on nature-play positioning but distributed rather than locally based.
• Earthscape Canada: Canadian natural play space design and build firm specialising in sculpted landscape and nature play environments. Closest international analogue to NPS's multidisciplinary design/build approach.

Others

• ASPECT Studios: Major Australian landscape architecture practice with public realm and play space projects. Comparable on the landscape-architect-led design capability that NPS provides, though their work spans well beyond play.
• Oculus (now part of Hassell): Australian landscape architecture firm with public realm and play space portfolio. Comparable on the design-side competencies, though serving a much broader landscape architecture market.
• Play Australia: Australian industry association for play. Not a direct competitor, but a strategic ecosystem partner and credentialing body whose advocacy drives demand for the nature-based play services NPS offers.

Direct peers

• Moduplay: Australian manufacturer and installer of playground equipment with nature-play and traditional ranges. Most direct competitor to Nature Play Solutions in the WA school and council market, offering design-to-install services for K-12 and public open space.
• Timberplay Australia: UK-rooted nature-play equipment supplier with Australian distribution, focused on Robinia timber and natural playgrounds for schools, parks, and public open space. Directly comparable product positioning.
• Forpark Australia: Australian arm of Forpark, supplying and installing commercial playgrounds, fitness equipment, and nature-based play spaces. Competes head-to-head with NPS for council and school tenders across Australia.

Broad incumbents

• Lappset (Australia): Global Finnish play and fitness equipment provider with Australian distribution. Competes in the nature-play and public open space segment but at much larger scale and broader product portfolio.
• Kompan Australia: Global playground and outdoor fitness manufacturer with Australian operations offering both traditional and nature-inspired play systems. A larger, broader incumbent competing on scale and product range.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NaturePlaySolutions
• Pinterestau.pinterest.com/natureplaysol
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nature-play-solutions

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nature Play Solutions