Inspiration

Stories of challenges met, problems solved and successful initiatives by inventive organisations as they strive to create and improve play opportunities for London’s children.

Adventure play
Three winning London adventure playgrounds that went to extraordinary lengths to keep children playing – and in some cases, fed too – during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

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Play
London Play’s Neighbourhood Play Havens project aims to ensure that adventurous play is within reach of those children and families who may otherwise be excluded – due to clinical vulnerabilities or capacity limits made necessary by the coronavirus pandemic.

 

 

 

David and Rachel smile as Dee-jay, 4, flashes past pushing a bright red ride-on car. “He just loves it here,” says David, beaming. The family is at Somerford Grove Adventure Playground in Haringey for a Neighbourhood Play Havens session, which gives them exclusive access to the playground for an hour, before the public sessions begin

 

 

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Play
Somerford Grove Adventure Playground was opened with great fanfare by the Haringey Play Association (HarPA) in the summer of 2005, with the aim of “putting play at the heart of the community.”.

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Play streets
With 14 playgrounds to manage in some of the highest profile parks in London, The Royal Parks decided a play strategy was in order!

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Funding
Learn and borrow from London Play's successful application to the Big Lottery's Reaching Communities programme.

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Adventure play
A small but potentially significant win for Risk-Benefit Assessment

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Sustainability
Capital investment in play facilities across London reached a peak during 2008-2010. But not all those in receipt of funding gave much thought to how the inspiring new playgrounds built with that money would endure. However, Dukes Meadows Trust in Chiswick always had one eye to the future.

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Parks
With 14 playgrounds to manage in some of the highest profile parks in London, The Royal Parks decided a play strategy was in order!

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Policy
Islington's 12 adventure playgrounds will forever remain adventure playgrounds thanks to decisive action taken to protect them.

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