SWANSEA: Free buckets and spades on the prom as beach toy library restocked for summer

Families heading to Swansea beach this summer can borrow buckets, spades and other toys for free, with the seafront toy library restocked for the school holidays.

The wooden container sits on the promenade opposite The Secret’s new fish and chip kiosk. Take what you need, use it on the sand, drop it back before you head home.

There is no cost, no booking and nothing to sign.

The library has been topped up with new toys donated by The Secret, the bar and kitchen that has hosted the scheme since it started.

It has been running since August 2024, when the council teamed up with the venue to get families onto the sand without the boot full of plastic.

The container itself was decorated by children who attended the free Play Day Celebration at the National Waterfront Museum that summer, an event that drew around 3,000 youngsters.

Cabinet member for development Andrew Williams said: “Our beach toy library is a fantastic example of the simple ideas that can make a big difference.”

“It helps families enjoy everything Swansea Bay has to offer without extra cost, while also promoting sustainability and community spirit,” he said. “We’re very grateful to The Secret for their support in helping the scheme grow.”

When the library opened in August 2024, Ryan Hole of The Secret said: “At the Secret, supporting our local community is one of our key principles. We’re really grateful for the support we receive from the Swansea people, especially during the summer holidays where lots use the beach.”

“It’s a pleasure to be able to provide the toys to allow families to use the beautiful Swansea Bay,” he added.

Launching the scheme in August 2024, Swansea Council cabinet member Hayley Gwilliam said: “Going to the beach can be an economical day out, especially important for families on a budget, but when the weather is good what can beat time spent playing on the sand?”

“The Beach Library means that those that don’t have, or forget, their buckets and spades or bats and balls, can still enjoy their day,” she said.

Anyone with spare beach toys at home can add to the stock by putting them in the collection box on the prom.

The council asks only that toys are intact and undamaged, and that borrowers return what they take.

The scheme is one of a run of low-cost options the council points families towards over the summer holidays.

Swansea Bay’s sands stretch five miles from the marina to Mumbles, with the prom running the length of it.

The toy library is open every day of the year.