Love Lewisham, Love Play

Playgrounds looking for love

London’s Saddest Playground 2024

Government inquiry into children and the built environment

Future adventures in play

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Spacehopper the ‘only way’ to travel this Car Free Day!

Ghostly future looms for London playgrounds

South London playgrounds are saddest in the capital

Bellingham Play Park, a local play area in Lewisham, was voted playground ‘most in need of love’ in London Play’s Valentine’s Day campaign.

The initiative is aimed at raising awareness of the value of play for children and communities across the capital and London Play has pledged to work alongside residents and Lewisham Council to help Bellingham Play Park get the attention it deserves.

Residents who nominated the play area for the campaign feel that it doesn’t yet serve the needs of the many young families in the area.

A spokesperson for the Bellingham Play Park group said:

“We believe an improved play park could be a vital resource that can benefit the health and wellbeing of local children and families. We are strongly supported by the amazing local community who would love to see this natural space reach its full potential.”

Lewisham’s Grove Park Library Playground was also nominated in the campaign as were three playgrounds in neighbouring Southwark. Others were located in Hammersmith and Fulham and in Newham.

Lewisham Council is one of only a handful of councils in London to have adopted a strategy for play, which sets out a long-term ambition for the borough to become a leader in play and a great place for children to grow up.

A Lewisham Council spokesperson said:

“We are committed to continue to work with our communities and London Play to improve play opportunities ongoingly for all children across our borough.

We have already identified these two playgrounds as needing improvements and are working with our partners to identify funding opportunities for refurbishment. Our play strategy is a key priority for us, improving children’s health, quality of life and well-being. By creating a new, sustainable, long term investment programme, we hope to be able to refurbish or replace all play areas across Lewisham.”  

Work has already begun in the borough, with the council and residents working together to open two new playgrounds in Lewisham by the end of last year. Lewisham Park playground has seen a £167,000 investment in new play equipment designed to cater for a wide range of ages and ensure access for those with disabilities too. New equipment includes a You and Me swing, a timber agility trail, a basket swing for all abilities, a new climbing frame with two towers, a bridge and spider net and a fairy tale throne. Meanwhile in Sydenham, Mayow Park playground has also undergone refurbishment with a focus on inclusive play and active climbing equipment.

London Play’s director Fiona Sutherland said:

“London Play was delighted to support the development of Lewisham’s play strategy last year and it is great to see it is now helping guide the council’s efforts and investments in improving play in the borough.

We know that councils are facing difficult financial times, and that play is often seen as an easy target when it comes to making cuts. But this is shortsighted.

Play is not just ‘nice to have’. It is a vital for thriving children and thriving communities too.”

London Play is calling on Londoners to let them know about poor play services, facilities or policies in their areas. In addition to poor quality playgrounds this could include after school clubs or holiday play schemes which are threatened with closure or reductions in their services; or too many signs prohibiting play on a housing estate.

Email info@londonplay.org.uk with your examples and we will look into how we can help.

London Play Press Releases
Vote for the playground most in need of LOVE! Deadline midnight Valentine's Day Wednesday 14 February.
London Play Press Releases
London Play is on the hunt again for London's saddest playgrounds

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Click here to go to our play map and find adventure playgrounds, play streets and all our other favourite places to play in London.
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Voting has now closed. The play area deemed ‘most in need of love’ by the voting public was Lewisham’s Bellingham Play Park (image 2)

We are in talks with the Bellingham group and with Lewisham council and will provide an update in due course, most likely once Lewisham’s mayoral elections have taken place in early March.

We would also like to add a disclaimer here!

The shortlist of eight playgrounds was not arrived at by any kind of scientifically accurate process. London Play does not have the capacity or resources to visit and rank every play space in London! These were a selection put forward by people that saw our callout on social media, and we have no doubt that there are many many other playgrounds which are far more in need of love than some of these.

But as a campaign designed to get people talking about children’s need for quality play opportunities in their lives, it works!

Thanks to all who took part in the nominations and the voting, and helped us put children’s right to play in the spotlight. We will be in touch to see how we can help.

[Click on gallery to the right to see larger images.]

London Play Press Releases
London Play is on the hunt again for London's saddest playgrounds

FIND A PLACE TO PLAY

Click here to go to our play map and find adventure playgrounds, play streets and all our other favourite places to play in London.
VISIT OUR PLAY MAP

Which of these is London’s saddest playground?

Vote BELOW for the playground you think is most in need of LOVE by 5pm Valentine’s Day, Tuesday 14 February

[Click on gallery to the right to see larger images.]

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London Play Press Releases
Is your local play area in need of some luuurve? London Play is on the hunt for London’s saddest playground – so we can help you turn it around in 2023.

FIND A PLACE TO PLAY

Click here to go to our play map and find adventure playgrounds, play streets and all our other favourite places to play in London.
VISIT OUR PLAY MAP
 

London Play is on the hunt for London’s saddest playground! How does your local play area measure up?

London Play is once again on the hunt for London’s saddest playgrounds!

Children have the right to play and to exercise that right, every child in London should have good quality play spaces near where they live.  But it’s a postcode lottery. If you are lucky, you live near one of London’s many great ones. But too many are rubbish – sometimes literally.

We want to highlight examples of poor quality, badly maintained, broken or unsuitable play areas in the hope of persuading those responsible for them to do better for their young residents.

Playgrounds can be sad for any number of reasons. Perhaps yours has pitiful play equipment or appalling access. Or is it rubbish-strewn, dangerous, or just plain neglected? Whatever the reason, we want to hear from you. Please send us pics of your sad play area – in your local park or green space, or housing estate.

Share your sad playground pics on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #LondonsSaddestPlayground – or simply send to us at info@londonplay.org.uk.

Don’t forget to state the location of the playground and make sure you include a way of contacting you.

Deadline for entries is 11.59pm, Sunday 11 February.

We will put all entries to the public vote. The winner, to be revealed on Valentine’s Day, Wednesday 14 February, will get some BIG love. London’s Saddest Playground will become the poster child for our campaign to improve local play facilities in London; and the team at London Play will work alongside the winners to convince those responsible to give it some love in 2024. So, what are you waiting for? A ray of hope on #bluemonday so get clicking and sharing!

Some of the 2023 crop of sad playgrounds got national and local media attention; others were brought to life with community events and others began to build their networks of would-be campaigners.

Not just playgrounds
We would also like to hear about poor play services or policies in your area. For example, after school clubs or holiday play schemes which are threatened with closure or reductions in the services they provide. Or maybe there are too many signs prohibiting play on your housing estate. Email us at info@londonplay.org.uk with details and we will try to help!

#LondonsSaddestPlayground PR
Current work
This two year project sees London Play working alongside local play campaigners, supporting them to successfully challenge threats to local play spaces or services; and influence decisions relating to play.
Play news
The Guardian reports that playgrounds around England are falling to pieces, missing large pieces of play equipment, or simply being locked up, as councils facing huge budget cuts struggle to maintain them.

FIND A PLACE TO PLAY

Click here to go to our play map and find adventure playgrounds, play streets and all our other favourite places to play in London.
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London Play has submitted evidence to a government select committee inquiry looking at how better planning and building and urban design in England could enhance the health and well-being of children and young people.

London Play was excited to hear about the call for evidence from the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee, inviting submissions about the experiences of children and young people in the built environment; how well their needs are currently met by the planning system and whether the government is currently working effectively to address this.

Our submission detailed how a hostile built environment currently significantly restricts children’s ability to play outside freely and move independently around their neighbourhood. We highlighted that although a child’s right to play is enshrined in Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; this is not incorporated into domestic law in England. This results in decisions being made that limit children’s ability to enjoy that right – including those relating to the built environment.

We highlighted some of London Play’s successful initiatives supporting children’s right to play, roam and enjoy independence in their local neighbourhoods and made a number of recommendations that we believe would help put the needs of children at the heart of spatial planning and urban development. In doing so this will create a public realm that works for children – and therefore everyone else too; including other groups who currently experience marginalisation in the built environment such as disabled people and the elderly.

  • A cabinet minister for children should be appointed with responsibility for promoting and protecting children’s needs and rights.
  • The government should work to enshrine the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into domestic English law.
  • This should include the introduction of a play sufficiency duty on local authorities (as is already the case in Wales and Scotland), with funding to support this. In doing so this will incentivise local authorities to better enforce the requirements and guidance set out in the London Play.
  • The government should implement a National Play Strategy to direct cross departmental coordination on ensuring that children can exercise their right to play and enjoy increasing independence and mobility as they grow, starting in their own neighbourhoods. This should include a directive to local authorities to develop local play strategies in line with this aim.
  • The Department for Transport should standardise play street policies and procedures nationally, to bring all councils in line with one another and promote best practice in play streets.
  • Equalities impact assessments should be routinely carried out on all proposed developments to gauge their impact on existing and new child populations.
  • Existing play space should be protected with preservation orders similar to that used in Islington.

Our full submission can be read here.

London Play DLUHC submission
DLUHC inquiry site
Play news
Children with more green space near their homes have significantly stronger bones, a study has found, potentially leading to lifelong health benefits.
Play news
The Guardian reports that playgrounds around England are falling to pieces, missing large pieces of play equipment, or simply being locked up, as councils facing huge budget cuts struggle to maintain them.

FIND A PLACE TO PLAY

Click here to go to our play map and find adventure playgrounds, play streets and all our other favourite places to play in London.
VISIT OUR PLAY MAP
 

London Play’s AGM in December marked the charity’s 25th birthday – but there was little time for nostalgia! The vibe was all about looking forward; and building strength and solidarity among London’s play community.

Around 30 playworkers, enthusiasts and promoters gathered at the beautiful Museum of the Home for London Play’s AGM to reflect on the year that had been, share stories and hatch plans for the future. A rare opportunity to meet others with shared passions and challenges was clearly valued by those in the room

“The AGM was really interesting and informative. It’s nice to see that people are really passionate and enthusiastic about play in this current environment.”

London Play director Fiona Sutherland looked back at the past year (and quarter century!), including highlighting the opportunity for the first time thanks to Trust for London, to support communities across the capital to campaign for better public playgrounds and services in their local areas. Other notable achievements included the return of car free day play streets and the ever-popular adventure play awards.

She also looked to the future, emphasising that adventure playgrounds continue to be seen as a key priority for the charity. She noted that six adventure playgrounds in London have closed since the outset of the pandemic, and the 72 remaining face significant challenges. London Play’s survey of adventure playgrounds carried out earlier in the year revealed that the most pressing challenges are funding, staff and training and upkeep and maintenance of structures.

Adventure play workers were also asked how useful various types of support would be. Playworker training and funding topped the list – with free events for children, downloadable resources, providing a conduit for children’s voices and help with maintenance also in demand. Fiona confirmed that, armed with this evidence, London Play is actively pursuing funding to develop a London AP network to facilitate peer support, access training and maintenance and create opportunities for collaboration and joint promotion.

London Play is keen to hear from anyone involved in adventure playgrounds with suggestions or evidence to support a funding bid. We are also keen to recruit people in adventure play communities to the London Play board of trustees, to help better shape this work.

Download London Play’s 2023 Annual Review below; or the new three year strategic plan, for more information. Contact London Play any time on info@londonplay.org.uk.

London Play 2023 Annual Review
London Play strategic plan 2023=26
London Play Press Releases
London Play is on the hunt again for London's saddest playgrounds
Play news
An extra 56,000 children in England are leaving primary school obese due to habits embedded during the pandemic, a large study has found.

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Click here to go to our play map and find adventure playgrounds, play streets and all our other favourite places to play in London.
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A Hackney adventure playground has ‘outplayed’ others from across the capital to win the title of London Adventure Playground of the Year 2023. Shakespeare Walk Adventure Playground was one of 16 shortlisted in the London Adventure Play Awards last week to join the hotly-anticipated annual event run by the charity London Play.

Entries to the awards are in the form of two-minute films, made by children. The group from Shakespeare Walk (affectionately known as SWAPA) were among around 250 excited kids and supporters who converged on the Prince Charles Cinema in London’s West End on Thursday, to see the short films they had made about the places they love to play up on the big screen, enjoy a bit of pandemonium – and find out if they had won prizes.

SWAPA’s winning film featured an original soundtrack, made by children in their on-site sound studio. It played over footage of kids building with tools, lighting fires, climbing, swinging, sliding, putting on impromptu shows, playing in the snow, dressing up and joyfully messing about.  Molly Mae aged 12 summed up what she likes about SWAPA: “I like the staff. I like the adventures!” Her friend said: “The best thing about SWAPA is making friends, getting to know other people and taking a break from what’s happening at home.”

In true adventure playground style, there was plenty of fun, games and messing about during the awards event with compere Charlie keeping the atmosphere just the right side of chaos.

Nitasha, chair of trustees at Shakespeare Walk said:

“It was such a joy, so much great energy, I’ve never seen a cinema transformed the way it was, truly a wonderful adventure playground event. I can’t believe we’ve won; the team has worked really hard this year and I really feel like they deserve it. I am so pleased for them.”

Awards were also made in three categories: Best Flick (best film); Weird and Wonderful; and Playworker Dream Team.

A group of budding documentary makers (left) from Triangle Adventure Playground in Lambeth won ‘Best Flick’. Their film showed children playing on the giant rope swings and zipline; roasting marshmallows over a fire; and even enjoying an overnight camp – all in the inner-city neighbourhood where the playground is based.  Asked what she enjoyed about Triangle, one young adventurer in play said: “Well, I see all my friends, I get to play, and I get to play for how long I want.”

Gabriel Green, deputy senior playworker, Triangle Adventure Playground said:

“Triangle Adventure Playground was absolutely delighted to win the Best Flick Award at London Play’s Adventure Playground of the Year awards 2023. It is a special and unique occasion each year that really makes a difference to promoting the vital importance of the work that adventure playgrounds do.”

Children at The Markfield Project in Haringey won the ‘Weird and Wonderful’ category with their film epic featuring the death – and resurrection – of Spongebob Squarepants. Weird you say? Yep. Finally, the team at Islington’s Barnard Adventure Playground  took the ‘Playworker Dream Team’ award. All those shortlisted in that category had their ‘dream team’ credentials tested during the event, with one game requiring playworkers to submit to children dressing them up for a very out-there fashion show: catwalk compulsory!

London is known as the adventure playground capital of the world; these unique child-led places began on bombsites in the aftermath of WWII and tend to be located in the least affluent areas of the city. In the 1980s London had over 100 staffed adventure playgrounds; today only 70 remain, with 12 having closed in the last decade alone.

Fiona Sutherland, director of London Play said:

“These annual awards are a joyous occasion that we look forward to hosting every year. The children’s creativity and enthusiasm is fantastic to see. But there is a very serious side to this! London’s staffed adventure playgrounds are a lifeline for communities. They allow children space, time and freedom to have fun, explore, challenge and express themselves – building skills, resilience and improving mental and physical health along the way. But despite the amazing work that SWAPA, Triangle and others do, they tend to fly under the radar. Funding is scarce, and most are in a constant fight for survival. Yes, these awards are about celebrating adventure playgrounds and the children who play there – but they are also about raising awareness of their value and building support to secure their future.”

 Films will be available shortly on Youtube @londonplaychannel 

Download the press release below for more information. For media enquiries and high-resolution pictures of the event or the winning playgrounds please contact Fiona Sutherland via info@londonplay.org.uk.

APOYA 2023_PRESS RELEASE
Play news
A report from Play England shows that children playing out on their street regularly brings big benefits for their health and wellbeing - but are increasingly being prevented from doing so by parents worried about upsetting the neighbours.
London Play Press Releases
Spacehopper will be the only way to travel on more than 100 streets in London over Car Free Day weekend this month.

FIND A PLACE TO PLAY

Click here to go to our play map and find adventure playgrounds, play streets and all our other favourite places to play in London.
VISIT OUR PLAY MAP
 

Spacehopper will be the only way to travel in London over Car Free Day weekend this month. A rainbow chalk racetrack is ready to be rolled out outside Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital and residents of over a hundred streets across London are excitedly awaiting the chance to bounce safely and gleefully down the middle of their road thanks to London Play, the Greater London Authority,  London’s councils and Transport for London.

World Car Free Day is marked annually across the globe on 22nd September, and this year is being celebrated in the capital over the weekend of Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th September. With the support of the GLA more than 100 streets across 17 London boroughs are taking part, transforming temporarily into playful social spaces for residents of all ages to have fun on their doorsteps. Having ‘jumped at the chance’ to apply to their local council to try out a play street, Londoners will experience the joyful potential of the space outside their front doors, free of traffic. Free spacehoppers and other play equipment – along with advice and information to help plan a successful event – are on offer from the charity London Play, which has been running its ‘Swap your Car for a Spacehopper’ campaign in the leadup to the event.

The fun will kick off on Friday with a colour explosion outside Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, where a chalk rainbow spacehopper track will transform the street and offer children and their families welcome respite with a few hours of outdoor play. On Saturday, Deptford High Street joins in the action with a giant hopscotch, street games, junk modelling and you guessed it, more spacehoppers! But the majority of events will take place on residential streets on Sunday, when children will be found hopping, skipping, skating and chalking on their doorsteps while adults are sipping, chatting and watching on. Lucky residents on one street in Wandsworth who have won a free on-street go kart build and race workshop in London Play’s prize draw will be getting into the nuts and bolts of emissions-free travel!

Play streets are simple, resident-organised events where neighbours on a road agree together to close their street temporarily, but regularly to through traffic. This allows children to play, drawing adults out too. On the diverse and ever-changing streets of London, play streets offer people a rare opportunity to meet their neighbours informally in the shared neutral space of the street. With most local authorities supportive, Car Free Day is an ideal opportunity to try out a play street without committing to regular events.

London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, Will Norman, said:

“With the realities of climate change becoming ever clearer, there has never been a better time to adopt greener, more sustainable modes of transport.

‘’Car Free Day gives us an opportunity to do just that, transforming streets into playful social spaces, where people of all ages can come together to walk, cycle, scoot, wheel, play and socialise safely, where it is not normally possible to do so.

“I’m delighted that London Play, TfL and London councils are supporting this by encouraging Londoners to join in the fun and reclaim their streets on spacehoppers. Initiatives like this support our aim to continue making the capital a greener, safer and healthier place.”

 

Melian Mansfield, chair of London Play said:

“Play is essential for children’s health and happiness but in London, space to play is very limited. Streets make up a massive 80 per cent of all public space in the capital. Car Free Day is a great opportunity for Londoners of all ages to experience the great untapped potential of this space – literally on their doorstep – to have fun, make connections and enjoy the sense of community that develops.”

Once participants have enjoyed the experience of seeing their street in a new light – as valuable community space rather than just parking space for cars – it is hoped that many will go on to apply for regular play street sessions. For more information contact London Play via info@londonplay.org.uk, call 0203 384 8513 or visit www.londonplaystreets.org.uk

 

London Play Press Releases
Londoners are being invited to ‘swap their cars for spacehoppers’ this September, when at least 200 streets across the capital are hoped to transform into temporary play spaces in celebration of Car Free Day.
Play news
A report from Play England shows that children playing out on their street regularly brings big benefits for their health and wellbeing - but are increasingly being prevented from doing so by parents worried about upsetting the neighbours.

FIND A PLACE TO PLAY

Click here to go to our play map and find adventure playgrounds, play streets and all our other favourite places to play in London.
VISIT OUR PLAY MAP
 

Londoners are being invited to ‘swap their cars for spacehoppers’ this September, when hundreds of streets across the capital are hoped to transform into temporary play spaces in celebration of Car Free Day.

The charity London Play is giving away free spacehoppers and other play ‘stuff’ to residents who are keen to ‘jump’ at the chance to try out a play street on their road. Additionally, one lucky group of neighbours will win an on-street go kart build and race workshop on the day. World Car Free Day is on Friday 22 September, and this year will be marked in London between Friday 22 and Sunday 24 September. 

Play streets are simple, resident-organised events where neighbours on a road agree together to close their street temporarily, but regularly to through traffic. This allows children to play, while adults watch on, chat and get to know each other better – or join in.  

With most local authorities supportive of the idea, Car Free Day is an ideal opportunity to try out a play street without committing to regular events. And people across the capital will be doing the same! Applicants will need to consult their neighbours and apply to their council well in advance. The exact process differs from borough to borough, but London Play can advise on this as well as support with promotion and consultation; and provide free play equipment to jump start the fun. 

“Streets make up a massive 80 per cent of the public space in London. Car Free Day is a great opportunity for all Londoners to appreciate the great untapped potential of this space – literally on their doorstep – to build community, have fun and get active with their neighbours. Why not jump in?”

Fiona Sutherland, London Play 

Once residents have seen their street in a new light, as valuable community space rather than just parking space for cars, it is hoped that many will go on to apply for regular play street sessions. For more information contact London Play via info@londonplay.org.uk, call 0203 384 8513 or visit www.londonplaystreets.org.uk  

Visit www.londonplaystreets.org.uk for more information
2023 Car Free Day PR
London Play in the news
The past decade has seen a revival in 1970s-style “playing out”, as kids reclaim our roads. Here’s the Evening Standard guide on which London boroughs are on board and how to do it yourself.
Play news
London Play is one of a coalition of children’s charities calling on the government to urgently put children at the heart of its agenda, following a critical United Nations report on children’s rights in the UK.

FIND A PLACE TO PLAY

Click here to go to our play map and find adventure playgrounds, play streets and all our other favourite places to play in London.
VISIT OUR PLAY MAP
 

Overgrown, decaying and haunted with the hopes of politicians past, is this the playground of the future? London Play’s biggest survey of councils in the capital for a decade finds that while many are building new playgrounds, funding for their preservation and maintenance is simply not keeping up.

Three quarters (25) of London’s 33 local authorities responded to London Play’s survey and the vast majority (88 per cent) say that children’s play is seen as a priority for their council. However, a third of respondents also admit that play facilities provided are not adequate for demand.

Most report they are building new public playgrounds. But revenue budgets, which fund staff to manage and maintain play areas, are static or falling. More than two thirds of respondents said that revenue over the next three years is likely to either decrease or stay the same. With inflation currently running at more than 10 per cent, future neglect seems almost certain.

 

“Play is a high priority, but we have limited resources to manage and maintain the current facilities.”

Council survey respondent

 

There are also questions about the quality of some new playgrounds. London Play’s recent campaign to find the capital’s ‘saddest’ playground not only yielded images of dilapidated and neglected older playgrounds, but also brand-new playgrounds that were painfully tokenistic. As one resident in Greenwich commented: “It’s staggering to think that this [pictured left] is the play area given to kids by the borough that proudly hosted the 2012 Olympics Gymnastics.”

Chair of London Play, Melian Mansfield MBE, said: “Opening a new playground is usually seen as a positive thing. But if there is no money to maintain it, or it is replacing adventurous play with less exciting play – or worse, it is nothing more than a token effort – then the benefits to children and the community become questionable.”

“Neglected playgrounds become a magnet for antisocial behaviour; families stay away and litter, dog mess and graffiti take over.”

Melian Mansfield, London Play

 

Meanwhile, more than a quarter of London’s local authorities are planning playground closures in the next three years. The capital has suffered the loss of six staffed adventure playgrounds since the outset of the pandemic, bringing the total to around 70, down from 82 just a decade ago.  Most adventure playgrounds in London are run by independent charities, but they remain highly dependent on local authority grants or contracts making them very susceptible to cuts.

Councils are undoubtedly in a difficult position. Over the decade to 2020, London boroughs’ ‘spending power’ fell by over a third; this year they face a £700m funding gap on top of £400m last year. In Wales – and now in Scotland too – play provision is a statutory duty for councils. But not in England. Play is inevitably in the sightlines when cuts are needed.

“The overall picture is perhaps not as dire as feared, given that we are emerging from a pandemic, in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis,” says Melian. “It is heartening to find that London councils see play as a priority for them. But until central government makes play provision a statutory duty, and funds it properly, it will continue to be highly vulnerable to cuts. Play is not just ‘nice to have’. It is vital for children’s health and happiness, and it is their right, under article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This has been ratified by the UK but must be enshrined in legislation to ensure it is upheld in practice.”

Download the press release below.

Ghostly future for play PR
Play news
Londoners who let their children play out are receiving warning letters from councils, threats from neighbours and visits from the police according to responses to a Guardian survey.
London Play Press Releases
Two south London playgrounds have been jointly named ‘London’s Saddest Playground’ in a public vote. Bromley’s Crystal Palace Park and Leyton Square in Southwark were deemed the playgrounds ‘most in need of love’ on Valentine’s Day, earlier this month.

FIND A PLACE TO PLAY

Click here to go to our play map and find adventure playgrounds, play streets and all our other favourite places to play in London.
VISIT OUR PLAY MAP
 

Two south London playgrounds have been jointly named ‘London’s Saddest Playground’ in a public vote. Bromley’s Crystal Palace Park and Leyton Square in Southwark were deemed the playgrounds ‘most in need of love’ on Valentine’s Day, earlier this month.

Children’s charity London Play ran the London’s Saddest Playground campaign in a bid to turn the spotlight on poor play facilities in the capital; and is offering to work with groups who nominated their local playgrounds to turn things around. They will be offered support with campaigning and fundraising to improve substandard playgrounds over the coming months.

Seven-year-old Wilf nominated Crystal Palace Park playground with the help of his mum, Sarah Sarson. “Lots of people use the park and for its size, it’s playground is rubbish,” he said. “It only has swings and a sandpit.”

Sarah added: “Wilf spotted the call for London’s saddest playground and wanted to send a photo of Crystal Palace in. We know the whole park is due to be improved by the Crystal Palace Park Trust, who are taking it over, but it’s sad that Bromley council let it fall into such a state over the years. It’s an important space for so many children.”

Mary King nominated Leyton Square (pictured left). “I’m thrilled to win but also saddened that for over six months Leyton Square’s big climbing frame has been a burnt-out shell that truly deserves the title ‘London’s saddest playground’,” she said. “The most important thing is that this is a first step towards getting the playground restored to be a place that Southwark’s children are proud to play in.”

A close third in the competition was Emerald Square in Ealing, run by housing association A2 Dominion.

London Play’s deputy director Fiona Sutherland said: “Local playgrounds are vital for children’s health and well-being, but too many are blighted by neglect. Some 35 per cent of parents surveyed in 2019 reported that their local playground had been subject to neglect or closure. This has only worsened since the outset of the pandemic.

Play is too often seen as a luxury instead of what it is: a vital cornerstone for thriving children and thriving communities too.

We are looking forward to working with the winning groups to campaign successfully for investment in play – and in the process turn London’s saddest playgrounds into London’s gladdest playgrounds in the coming year.”

London Play is calling on Londoners to let them know about poor play services, facilities or policies in their areas. As well as poor quality playgrounds this could include after school clubs or holiday play schemes which are threatened with closure or reductions in their services; or too many signs prohibiting play on a housing estate. Email  info@londonplay.org.uk with details.

Download a pdf of this press release below.

 

Londons Saddest Playground winners PR
Play news
A Japanese study has found that outdoor play can mitigate some of the negative impacts of excessive screen time in young children.
London Play Press Releases
VOTE for London's Saddest Playground! Which playground do you think is most in need of love this year?

FIND A PLACE TO PLAY

Click here to go to our play map and find adventure playgrounds, play streets and all our other favourite places to play in London.
VISIT OUR PLAY MAP