Our News Category: London Play in the news

Connecting children to public space outdoors had a watershed moment when Richard Louv published his now classic Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. A new handbook on designing public space for children shares examples of how marginalised children are being successfully connected with the outdoors; and includes a chapter from London Play, on play streets.

Landscape Architecture Magazine

The image of the carefree youth, which Mark Twain so eloquently captured in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer during this era, is ultimately one of privilege. In the early 20th century, fortunate boys living without the unending chores of a farm or factory hours in the city had more leisure time to explore the woods and streams. “The country road with barefoot boys, dogs, and fishing poles was an important part of early twentieth century small-town iconography,” notes Gordon, quoting Sinclair Lewis. The iconic youth in small towns was in various ways an elite group. How many prior generations of children of colour and girls were never in Louv’s proverbial woods in the first place?

The editors of The Routledge Handbook of Designing Public Spaces for Young People focus on providing access and voice specifically to these groups of marginalised young people. Access, in particular, has been a central topic in the research and at conferences. There has also been increasing discussion around social justice. However, empowering voices within the process is a newer concept that brings a different set of challenges to the committed professional.

“While pragmatic about failure, the Handbook is essentially hopeful. Speaking truth to power and empowering the marginalised are not trivial tasks, but ones that require the finesse and suite of skills for which landscape architects, planners, and environmental psychologists are fully trained. Some case studies, such as the creation of a play street culture in London, show how play and independent mobility can be increased.”

The methodologies, tools, and case studies are the guidance and inspiration that leaders and professionals need to support disadvantaged young voices today and to build inclusive public spaces now.

The full article is at Landscape Architecture Magazine.

The Routledge Handbook of Designing Public Spaces for Young People: Processes, Practices, and Policies for Youth Inclusion, edited by Janet Loebach, Sarah Little, Adina Cox, and Patsy Eubanks Owens; London and New York: Routledge, 2020.

The most happening  adventure playground in London is ELHAP in Redbridge, it was announced today.

The special needs playground was named London Adventure Playground of the Year 2019 at a noisy, messy, joyous event in central London.

The 2019 London Adventure Play Awards saw around 150 experts in play – children – converge on the Prince Charles Cinema to watch short films they had made about the places they love to play up on the big screen. Children are in charge at any good adventure playground and the ELHAP film raised squeals of delight from the young audience with its messy scenes of compliant playworkers being doused in paint, slime and other disgusting goo by children that play there.

Islington’s Timbuktu Adventure Playground scooped the ‘Coolest Place to Play’ award with its film featuring tree climbing, fire building and a lovely dance-off scene to an upbeat soundtrack; while borough-mate Three Corners Adventure Playground took the ‘All Inclusive Award’ and Hackney’s Homerton Grove won ‘Best Flick’ at the annual event today.

Eleven adventure playgrounds were shortlisted for awards and children from the 2018 winners, Triangle Adventure Playground, were the judges. Of ELHAP they commented approvingly: “They get to make the playworkers wet and dirty.” This was also seen as a major plus by the children who play there. Shereen, 10 said: “I can get really, really messy and make slime and throw paint at all the staff!” The winning prize will see ELHAP children and staff working with APES Adventure Playground Engineers to design and build a new play structure with £500 of free materials.

Enfield’s Kynaston Road was named London’s Play Street of the Year with a low-key film showing the simple pleasures of playing in a traffic-free street, even when it rains. Tia, 7 said: “I like play street because you get to ride your bike and play on the road. It’s my favourite in the summer when it doesn’t rain. I want to live on the street forever and be the person who looks after play street with my friends.” The movie-style ‘clapper board’ award came with a prize of £100 for play equipment for the street.

Other prizes were donated by Marks Barfield (a trip in a private pod on the London Eye); and Timberplay (a den building kit) – to the delight of the young winners. But no one missed out! Along with the chance to see their films there was plenty of popcorn, noise, games and high jinks with compere Charlie keeping things just on the right side of chaos.

London Play’s chair, Melian Mansfield said: “Congratulations to ELHAP, Three Corners, Timbuktu and Homerton Grove adventure playgrounds on their awards – and also to Kynaston Road. Thank you too, for showing us what all children deserve: access to high quality, adventurous play in their communities and on their doorsteps. These annual awards remind us how important it is to protect them for future generations.”

Residents are being encouraged to set up traffic-free ‘play streets’ outside their homes.

The £100,000 a year project will allow people to close streets from traffic for up to four hours during daylight, allowing children to play in the public space close to their homes.

Play streets have already taken place under rules designed for street parties, but at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, councillors agreed to create a separate application process, allowing for up to 24 play street days a year, instead of two.

They’ll be resident-led, with volunteer traffic marshalls and supervisors. The council will provide basic training for volunteers, high-vis clothing, and traffic cones and road closed signs.

Councillor Rachel Tripp said: “Children playing outside their homes used to be at the heart of street life in the east end, before cars and traffic came to dominate the environment.

“Our play streets scheme aims to redress the balance, get children active and enjoying a life beyond computer screens.

More on this story here

LONDON: As many as half a dozen housing developments across London – most of them relatively new – separate play areas for richer and poorer children.

Politicians from across the political spectrum this week joined in denouncing developer Henley Homes after a Guardian investigation showed that it was blocking social housing residents from shared play spaces at its Baylis Old School complex in south London. The furore led Henley to back down in a public statement yesterday, and Lambeth Council has begun demolishing the wall.

Now a subsequent investigation has revealed that the story was not unique. As many as half a dozen developments across London – most of them relatively new, or featuring recent conversions of older buildings – separate play areas for richer and poorer children, often with hedges or other barriers.

The Seren Gardens development, located near Greenwich Park, has a mix of social, shared ownership and private homes, and won an Evening Standard award for best large-scale mixed tenure development.

The shared ownership and social housing part of the site, however, which is run by Moat Housing, has no access to the communal leisure areas.

“We have no outside space at all, just that balcony which of course I don’t want my children out on very much,” says resident Lucy, who didn’t want to be identified. “Two children over in the private development are at school with my kids. But they can’t play together. And the kids know – they know there is a play area they can’t use. “We just play in the carpark when it’s sunny.”

Deputy director at London Play, Fiona Sutherland said: “Play, like food and music, acts as a bridge between diverse communities. Segregating ‘poor’ and ‘rich’ children as they play will further entrench inequalities and divisions in society.” She commended the Guardian for shedding light on the issue but said it was not a big surprise to the charity. “This trend first came to prominence when Wandsworth Council demolished its free access Battersea Park Adventure Playground in 2013. This was replaced with a standard fixed equipment playground and any child wanting more exciting adventurous play must now pay £30 to swing over the heads of the poorer children at the Go Ape attraction.”

For more on the Guardian story click here

Children from deprived areas like east London could be “paying the price” of public spending cuts and lose opportunities to improve their lives.

That’s the stark warning from organisers of this year’s London kids’ go-kart ‘grand prix’ staged on the Isle of Dogs.

Youngsters from adventure playgrounds across London turned up at Mudchute Farm for the annual race that also teaches them basic engineering, aerodynamics and teamwork as well as how to have a fun day.

The annual event gets support from Canary Wharf volunteers—but the adventure playground movement is facing many places being closed down through lack of local council funding.

“It’s a short-sighted attempt to save money,” London Play charity’s deputy director Fiona Sutherland told the East London Advertiser.

For more on this story go to the East London Advertiser website.