Description:

Richmond Upon Thames Council are taking advantage of the £300 million pound nationwide investment in children’s outdoor 'natural play'. The project is led by Play England and financed bythe Department of Children, Schools and Families.

 

The local  project is called Richmond Playbuilders 2009-2010 and is being run by the Richmond Department of Culture and Sport alongside the Parks department and where applicable, Richmond Housing Partnership. The London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames is to create 22 'natural' play spaces in 2 years. The first 11 will be designed and built in 2010.

 

The natural play areas are being built in accordance with Play England’s latest guidelines to design play spaces taken from Design For Play. There are ten design principles to ensure that successful play areas :- 

 

1. are ‘bespoke’

2. are well located

3. make use of natural elements

4. provide a wide range of play experiences

5. are accessible to both disabled and non-disabled children

6. meet community needs

7. allow children of different ages to play together

8. build in opportunities to experience risk and challenge

9. are sustainable and appropriately maintained

10. allow for change and evolution

 

The first 11 areas to be completed in year 1 are

 

* Murray Park

* Broom Road Recreation Ground

* Kneller Gardens

* Castelnau Recreation Ground

* Ham Village Green

* Sandy Lane Recreation Ground

* Hampton Common

* Raleigh Road Recreation Ground

* Heathfield Recreation Ground

 

 

Work is well under way and although the project is aimed at ages 8 - 13 ,  many of the playbuilder outdoor play areas are being enjoyed by older and younger members of the community.