Beale Park's new website goes live

Wednesday 21st July 2010

With a large helping of creativity, two huge spoonfuls of fun and a sprinkling of colour, 24 year old, Dale Smith of Tilehurst in Reading, Berkshire, has created a dedicated children’s area for Beale Park’s new website.

Launched in July, the wildlife park and garden’s website features various new elements including Animal Keeper Updates and Gardener’s News, a webcam and a section called “Bertie’s Fun Zone”.

“Bertie’s Fun Zone” is full of puzzles, games, colouring and “make and do” activities; all designed and created for the Park’s younger visitors, by Dale; who has been working for the charity as a volunteer, to gain work experience, since December 2009.

Recently qualified with a BA in Product Design and Marketing from Southampton Solent University, Dale was keen to gain as much experience as possible while continuing on his quest to find his ideal job, enabling him to unleash his creative talents.

Donna Hatchett, Marketing Manager at Beale Park, says “The high standard and quality of Dale’s work is quite remarkable.  I was particularly impressed by the way in which he interpreted key elements of the Park, presenting them in a way which will appeal to youngsters.”

Donna continued, “He understood and recognised the strengths of our brand instantly and was able to bring our identity to life by transforming our logo, a Peacock, into a cartoon character called “Bertie”.

Part of Dale’s creations also included a “My Mini Beale Park” activity, which enables children to print off drawings of their favourite attractions and animals so that they can  create their own Beale Park, complete with pavilion, lakes, boats and gardens. 

Dale still lives in Tilehurst and has fond memories of his school days, first at Downsways Primary Schools and then at Denefield Secondary School which is where his eye for design really began to develop.

“I always had an interest in design technology and graphic design as a child.” said Dale.  “Lego structures and putting things together to see how they worked always appealed to me, but it was my GSCE and “A” Level projects which enabled me to play with different concepts and to develop an understanding of business, materials and the world around me.”

By the time Dale reached his “A” levels his skills were already being recognised by those around him as he was given the school’s  “Design and Technology Achievement Award” in 2004.  Supported and encouraged by his tutors he went onto university with a real passion to incorporate his love for product design with the marketing elements which he had learnt along the way.  Three years later, he had gained the qualifications which he now hopes will enable him to work within the design industry.

Donna added “The Park is extremely grateful to Dale for not only joining our team of volunteers, but also for helping us to take our marketing initiatives to the next level.”

She continued, “I believe that he has a very promising and exciting future ahead of him – a young talent that local businesses should embrace and nurture.”    

The new Beale Park website was built by Pandemedia in Oxford and went live on July 21^st.