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.

All Adventure play Funding Islington Parks Play Play streets Policy Risk benefit Sustainability Waltham Forest

Adventure play

2020 AP Award winners

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.

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.

Play

Many eggs, many baskets

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.”.

Play streets

When play came to the forest 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!

Funding

A successful funding bid

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

Adventure play

Risk benefit assessment in practice

A small but potentially significant win for Risk-Benefit Assessment

Sustainability

Dukes Meadows: a model of 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.