Active Tameside is preparing to launch a stunning new rooftop gym, exercise space and sensory garden at Tameside Wellness Centre in Denton – understood to be one of the first of its kind in the community leisure sector.

It’s set to offer a unique and holistic outdoor experience to exercise, relax and achieve wellbeing.

The open-air exercise area features specialised strength and cardio equipment supplied by The Great Outdoor Company (TGO), world-class customised training rigs and racks from BeaverFit and TGO Smart Activator screens streaming virtual activities and classes.

It will host instructor-led mind and body classes in a dedicated workout zone and will be accompanied by a beautiful sensory garden which includes scented plants and therapy areas including tactile boards, a xylophone, water features, balance beams and an array of seating areas including a sky-gazing zone.

Designed to elevate the workout experience and provide an oasis of calm, relaxation and sensory stimulation, it will officially welcome members from 2 July.

The launch is the realisation of a three-year vision for Active Tameside which began prior to the opening of the flagship centre as a state-of-the-art health and wellbeing hub in Lance Corporal Andrew Breeze Wy, in March 2020.

The project was temporarily halted due to the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns but was reignited in 2021 with the ambition of being completed by the summer of this year.

Active Tameside’s Deputy CEO and Commercial Director, Lee Wood, who has overseen the planning and installation of the exercise area, said: “We wanted to make this wonderful rooftop space count in all aspects. 

“The pandemic gave us time to reconsider what we wanted to do. After many initial concepts and ideas, when we came back with a fresh pair of eyes it was clear it should offer a complete holistic experience, using zoned areas to incorporate gym and workout spaces for open-air exercise which lead to the sensory garden zone. 

“We’ve installed equipment suitable for all levels of exercising. The Great Outdoor Gym Company are renowned for installing all-weather equipment in unique outdoor spaces and have supplied a range of power smart equipment for the rooftop space including spin and hand bikes and chest and shoulder presses.

“British made BeaverFit have a global reputation for supplying strength equipment to the likes of the UK armed forces, NATO and commercial gyms and have custom-built a specialist range of training rigs and racks. 

“After going through a series of health, safety and planning aspects we settled on what is a unique and exceptional offering which is designed to give a completely fresh perspective on exercising and training for our members as well as pleasure to those visiting the sensory garden.

“It’s something we’re very proud of and we’re delighted to see it come to fruition after several years of planning and so much thought being put into it.

“I’m not aware of anything else like this, particularly in a leisure centre setting, and it’s an absolute pleasure to make this type of facility accessible to the people of Tameside.”

With 14,000 people in Tameside registered as having a physical or sensory disability, including many with sight and hearing impairments, the sensory garden was always pivotal to the design of Tameside Wellness Centre’s rooftop space.

Reg Patel, Deputy CEO and Director of Operations and Asset Development at Active Tameside, helped to develop the concept of the rooftop space in partnership with Tameside Council and has overseen the designing and planning of the sensory garden.

“We wanted to create a space where people can exercise, relax and achieve wellbeing,” said Reg. 

“Lots of us have day-to-day stresses, worries and anxieties and we started to think, well actually, we can build a sensory garden which is designed to help people to take time out as well as provide sensory stimulation through scents, textures, colours and sounds. When you stand up on the roof terrace it gives you an incredible sense of space.

“It’s the final piece of the jigsaw for us in terms of bringing wellness to the centre. It gives people the opportunity to exercise in the way they want to exercise, in an environment they want to be in and given what we’ve just been through in terms of the pandemic, people are wanting to train outside and workout in an open space, so it just seems a natural evolution.” 

Active Tameside is a not-for-profit organisation which operates community leisure centres across the borough and provides an extensive programme of health and social care intervention services in partnership with Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council. 

As a charitable trust it reinvests every penny of profit back into providing high quality leisure facilities and its life-changing services to ensure everyone can live happy, healthy lives and reach their potential.

Members are invited to experience the open-air energy of the new rooftop exercise space and sensory garden when it opens. 

There will be equipment demonstrations, group exercise taster classes, fun challenges, giveaways and membership offers.

There’s more information available here.

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