Digital Parks & Public Realm Engagement
Pilot → District-wide rollout
Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils sought a sustainable and cost-effective way to engage residents and visitors across parks, countryside sites and public spaces. They wanted to replace traditional interpretation with a flexible digital solution that would encourage exploration, physical activity and greater engagement with local heritage and nature.
The Councils required a scalable platform that could be easily updated, reduce reliance on physical infrastructure and support tourism, community engagement and outdoor learning across multiple locations.
“We were amazed by the response from the public... thousands of hits in a couple of days. The support from the Love Exploring team has been invaluable and the dashboard is easy to use, even for non-technical users.”
Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils sought an innovative and sustainable way to enhance visitor engagement across their parks, countryside sites and public spaces while reducing reliance on costly physical interpretation infrastructure. Traditional signage and interpretation boards presented ongoing challenges relating to maintenance, content updates, vandalism and long-term operational costs.
Love Exploring Solution
Love Exploring was initially deployed as a pilot within a single countryside park, delivering interactive digital trails and family-focused activities. Following strong public uptake and positive feedback, the programme expanded into a district-wide implementation, supporting multiple towns and sites.The solution enabled the councils to deliver engaging, self-directed outdoor experiences without the need for permanent infrastructure.
Features Delivered
- Interactive digital maps and amenity mapping
- Digital interpretation and items of interest
- Augmented reality games including Dinosaur Safari, Halloween Dance Trail and Enchanted Walk
- Curated walking trails including heritage audio, art, tree and measured routes
Implementation & Delivery
- Rapid pilot deployment with Parks and Countryside teams
- Training and onboarding for council officers to independently manage content
- Ongoing support, guidance and feature development from Love Exploring
- Seasonal refresh capability enabling content updates without additional cost
Outcomes & Impact
- Thousands of engagements achieved through organic promotion alone
- Strong uptake during school holidays and half-term periods
- Increased family participation in outdoor activity
- Reduced reliance on physical signage and interpretation
Future Plans
The councils continue to expand their use of the platform with new sites, seasonal content, and promotional events planned over the coming year.
