Natural Play Initiative
London Play has launched a new funding initiative designed to create a number of new natural play areas, in some of the most economically deprived areas of the capital.
Another criteria for developing such natural play areas involves the distance from existing natural green open space, this is mapped for the whole capital by Natural England.
Natural play areas are not expected to replace manufactured equipment, but to complement it, allowing children to choose and to experience a wide range of play opportunities.
The project continues the work of Partners for Play with a focus on giving children and young people better access to play opportunities - essential for children's health and well-being. Many of the project's outcomes will be achieved by working in partnership with a wide range of London organisations, especially borough play associations, to reach out to marginalised and excluded groups.
Housing, parks and public space managers and other play providers will gain from sharing best practice, and this will be disseminated across London and beyond. For example, London Play added some climbing trees to a new development in Goodmayes Park in Redbridge in April 2009: see the press release and photos.
Another new play improvement was created at the London Wildlife Trust's East Reservoir site in Hackney, combining a free children's wildlife club and play area, further details on Free Play's website.
To aid consultation with local children and parents, London Play is developing a set of portable natural play elements - Natural Play Invaders - that can be placed temporarily in public space.
We offer a free advisory service for public space managers who wish to improve children's play in natural surroundings, email or phone 020 7272 9266. Further detailed work including consulting with children and adults, and developing design ideas may be undertaken on a consultancy basis.
For a detailed look at the benefits of natural play areas, and what they are and can be, with lots of web links to other experts and ideas, see our natural play page.
(And thanks to Tim Gill for the photo on this page.)
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