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The Richmond Playbuilders Scheme for 2010, run by the Richmond Department of Culture and Sport alongside the Parks department, is to be scrapped after funding was cut by the new coalition government. The London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames has already 11 of the 22 'natural' play spaces created at Murray Park, Heathfield Recreation Ground, Hounslow Heath Housing Estate and Kneller Gardens, in Whitton, Broom Road Recreation Ground, in Teddington, Castelnau Recreation Ground, in Barnes, Ham Village Green and Sand Lane Recreation Ground, in Ham, Hampton Common, Raleigh Road Recreation Ground, in Kew, and Chertsey Court, in Mortlake. The new play areas promote natural play with features such as grassy mounds and hills , climbing frames, swings and  picnic areas and ares designed to complement any existing equipment.

New Education Secretary Michael Gove has frozen grants to 132 councils, including Richmond, for the Playbuilder scheme so it is unlikely that any further planned works would go ahead. Councillor Christine Percival, Richmond Council cabinet member for education, youth and children’s services, said she was hopeful a scheme for Crane Park, in Twickenham, could be completed.

Steve Chown, programme development manager at Play England, the charity commissioned to aid councils with their schemes,  , said: "Communities are going to be disappointed that these play areas that they have worked so hard to set up are not now going forward.”

Confirmation of the decision is expected later this month.