It is with great joy and excitement that we present our newest, most beautiful and bananas project, the Rye Lane Fruit Palace, coming to Peckham from 20-28th September as part of Peckham Festival.
Inspired by the myriad of fruits in Rye Lane’s markets, co-designed with local school children and brought to life by local artists Mallika Joy and Maia Magoga, this is a free, pop-up playground installation packed with colour and imagination.
So far this has been the most incredible journey of steep learning curves, deep collaboration and continuously being humbled by the unfiltered creative genius of children, the generosity and knowledge of the humans who’ve dedicated their lives to play, and by the complimentary skills we keep discovering in one another.
We won’t give too much away until you can experience it in real life… but if you come to Peckhamplex from 20-28 Sept, you will likely find a giant dragonfruit slide (all the kids said their favourite fruit was a dragonfruit!), a tiny fruit stall, a seating & climb area made from repurposed pallets and plastic bags, and, of course, some giant soft-play replicas of the plasticine fruits that the kids invented!
We have so much more to say about this project but for now, just get it in your diaries, bring your kids/nephews/neices, and come be part of Peckham Festival!
And, if you’re keen to help out or get involved, we’re still looking for some volunteers to help us with finishing touches, or if you know anyone who might be up for donating even a small amount to the project we’d love to know [it’s run up quite a lot more than we were expecting 🙃]
- 📍 Moncrieff Place, Peckham (outside of Peckamplex)
- 🛝 Recommended for kids under 12, best for kids 3-9
- 🎟️ Free to attend
- 🍒 🥭 🍓 🍉 🍌
Made possible thanks to Southwark Council’s Cultural Celebrations Fund and a lot of local, in-kind support, including from our partners Peckham Festival and Peckham Levels, as well as:
Invaluable consulting and technical planning with Matt Corless, from Acrylicize (also Brainchild team), Carpentry and design with local artist Ed Haslam, Co-design consulting with play expert Marie Williams from Dream Networks, Playground safety advice from Mark Chapman, Simon Rix and Callum Sida-Murray. Fabrication support from a whole host of amazing volunteers including Dre, Davis, Christina, Josie, Juliet, Tash, Phoebe.
Rye Lane Fruit Palace – FAQs
🌟 About the Project
What is the Rye Lane Fruit Palace?
The Fruit Palace is a free, pop-up playground and art installation in Peckham, co-created with local schools, artists, and community partners. It celebrates play, creativity, and Peckham’s rich history as London’s fruit basket.
Who is behind the project?
The installation is a collaboration between Brainchild Arts CIC (creative producers), Peckham Festival and Peckham Levels (delivery partners), led by artists Mallika Joy and Maia Magoga, with support from local schools, consultants, and volunteers.
👨👩👧👦 Visiting
Where is the playground located?
The Fruit Palace will be on Moncrieff Place, just between Rye Lane and Peckhamplex.
When is it open?
The playground will have all its components out for play daily from 11am on Saturday 20th September to 7.30pm on Sunday 28th September. It is technically possible to visit outside of these hours, but not all the parts will be usable.
Is it free to attend?
Yes – the playground and events are completely free.
Do I need to book?
No booking is needed. Just turn up and play!
What ages is the playground for?
The equipment is designed for children aged [e.g. 4–12], but everyone is welcome to explore. All children need to be closely supervised by parents or legal guardians.
🛠 Safety & Accessibility
Is it safe? Yes. All structures have been professionally installed and inspected to playground safety standards (EN 1176/1177). Daily safety checks are carried out by our team.
Is the play space supervised?
Staff and stewards will only be present some of the time, so it is essential that parents and legal guardians supervise their own children's play.
Is the playground accessible?
The site is step-free and wheelchair accessible. Some play elements are designed for climbing and sliding, but there are also interactive sculptures and sensory features open to all.
🎨 Community & Involvement
Who built the playground?
Local artists worked with children from Angel Oak Primary to co-design and imagine the playground.
Can I volunteer?
Yes! We welcome local volunteers to help steward the playground and support events. Email [email protected].
Can we take photos?
Yes, but please be mindful of other children and families. For safeguarding reasons, staff may sometimes restrict photography in certain areas.
📍 Practical Information
Are toilets available?
There are no dedicated toilets for this project, however there are toilets at any number of local businesses - e.g. Peckham Levels, Frank's, Copeland Park.
Who can I contact with questions?
Email us at [email protected] or ask one of our team on site.