Introducing Our 2026 Inspired by Nature Outdoor Music Collection

At Percussion Play, we’ve long believed that outdoor music should feel joyful, accessible, and alive with possibility. Our Inspired by Nature Collection was created to bring this philosophy to life through playful, botanical, or creature‑led designs that feel perfectly at home in the great outdoors.

For 2026, we’re delighted to introduce four new additions that build on the spirit of this growing collection. Each one draws on the charm, colour, and personality of the natural world, transforming familiar woodland characters into vibrant, inviting instruments that make music‑making instinctive for people of all ages.

Meet The New Instruments:

The Butterfly is a vibrant, sculptural instrument designed to attract attention and encourage hands‑on musical play. Its distinctive wing panels invite children and families to tap, press, and explore, activating the hidden bells inside each wing to create bright, uplifting tones - all without the need for mallets.

Inspired by the iconic Monarch butterfly, known for its remarkable multi‑generational migration and importance as a pollinator, this instrument naturally sparks conversations about nature and the environment while offering an intuitive musical experience. The four wings each contain a pair of bells tuned in parallel fifths, forming a clear and accessible diatonic scale. Players simply press or push the wings to produce sound, making the Butterfly easy and enjoyable for all ages.

Durable, low‑maintenance, and immediately engaging, the Butterfly fits beautifully into early years settings, libraries, family attractions, and community spaces. It supports sensory exploration, creativity, and inclusive play, encouraging children to discover both music and the natural world in a fun, approachable way.

Explore the Butterfly

The Ladybug is a bright, inviting outdoor instrument designed especially for young children who are naturally drawn to colourful, friendly shapes. Its bold red body and black spots immediately catch the eye, encouraging children to come closer, tap, and explore. Each spot hides a gentle bell tone, giving young players a fun, mallet‑free way to discover sound.

Perched neatly on a green leaf and supported by a stainless steel post, the Ladybug blends durability with charm. Pressing its six black spots activates notes from a C‑major pentatonic scale, making it easy for children to create simple, pleasing patterns - or simply enjoy the satisfying sounds that emerge from each touch.

Ideal for early‑years settings, parks, libraries, and family‑focused outdoor spaces, the Ladybug supports sensory exploration, imaginative play, and early musical development. Its compact size allows it to fit neatly into smaller play areas, while its hands‑on, approachable design sparks curiosity about garden creatures and the natural world.

Explore the Ladybug

The Toadstool is a charming, woodland‑themed instrument designed for young explorers who are naturally curious about the world around them. Its bright red cap and bold white spots immediately invite children to tap, press, and discover the sounds hidden beneath - a simple, mallet‑free design that encourages intuitive, hands‑on play.

Each of the eight spots activates a tuned bell, creating clear, gentle tones arranged within a C‑major diatonic scale. Children typically enjoy experimenting freely, tapping the spots to hear how each one responds, creating simple patterns, or just having fun with the variety of sounds the instrument produces. Blending musical play with the magic of forest‑themed design, the Toadstool encourages imagination and sensory engagement while gently sparking curiosity about fungi, woodland habitats, and how nature works together. Its compact footprint and durable construction make it an excellent fit for early years settings, school outdoor areas, nature‑themed gardens, libraries, family attractions, and community play spaces.

Built to withstand the elements and designed to be enjoyed from all angles, the Toadstool brings a little touch of woodland wonder - and a lot of playful sound - to any outdoor environment.

Explore the Toadstool

The Sylvan Bell‑Trees bring a striking visual and acoustic focal point to any outdoor space. Inspired by the layered shapes of forest conifers, these elegant bell trees invite people of all ages to tap, explore, and enjoy a range of bright, chiming tones with just a light touch of the attached mallets. Each tree features a series of weather‑resistant green bells arranged vertically on stainless‑steel posts. The tones ascend as players move up the tree, creating a satisfying, intuitive sound progression.

Available individually or as a complete set, the Bell‑Trees offer flexible installation options for parks, plazas, schools, sensory gardens, healthcare environments, and family‑focused destinations. Their accessible layout encourages group play, social interaction, and moments of discovery for both children and adults. Durable, eye‑catching, and universally welcoming, the Sylvan Bell‑Trees bring a touch of woodland character to outdoor settings while providing an easy, enjoyable way to explore sound.

Discover the Sylvan Bell-Trees

Across education, community, and public spaces, there has been a noticeable rise in pollinator gardens, sensory landscapes, and nature‑rich outdoor areas designed to help people connect with the environment. Organisations are increasingly seeking playful, hands‑on ways to introduce environmental awareness, ecosystems, and habitats - and these instruments offer a fun, accessible way to support that learning.

Children learn best when information is wrapped in play. Inspired By Nature instruments naturally spark curiosity about butterflies, beetles, fungi, and trees while allowing children to explore sound, movement, and imagination. They complement conservation activities, sensory planting schemes, and outdoor classrooms without feeling instructional or prescriptive.

We also know that quality family time can be hard to come by in today’s busy world - and music has a unique ability to bring people together. Music isn’t just about learning notes; it’s a way to communicate, bond, and share experiences. These instruments are designed to make music accessible to everyone, regardless of age or ability.

One of the beautiful things about music in the great outdoors is that it meets you where you are. Whether a child is making simple playful sounds or a parent is joining in casually, the experience is shared, joyful, and meaningful. By expanding this collection, we’re supporting outdoor spaces that value creativity, connection, environmental understanding, and inclusive musical exploration.

The new additions to the Inspired By Nature Collection have already captured interest from early years educators, children’s museums, libraries, and visitor attractions seeking sensory‑rich, nature‑themed outdoor experiences. They also blend seamlessly into school gardens, woodland trails, community parks, and family leisure destinations.

Their approachable designs encourage families to stop, play, and interact - creating shared moments that feel natural and spontaneous. Whether nestled beneath trees, dotted along a path, or added to a sensory garden, these instruments feel like they belong in landscapes where imagination and nature come together.

And There’s Even More Coming…

Alongside these new Inspired by Nature instruments, 2026 will also see the release of:

• New Street Congas
• New Musical Ensembles

We’ll be sharing more about these exciting additions in upcoming blogs, including their design stories, acoustic qualities, and ideal placement, so stay tuned!