.JPG "Wooden sculpture - Credit Gordon Scaife")
Wooden sculpture - Credit Gordon Scaife
Natural play is a term used to describe the creation of simple play opportunities in the natural environment, it allows children and young people to think freely using their imagination in play and how they use the space.
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has created over twenty natural play spaces in existing play areas across Hull and East Yorkshire. This project was funded by the Big Lottery and though the project has finished the sites are still there to be enjoyed!
Natural Play is a sustainable process. Using natural materials and living plants the space is continuously changing; as plants and trees mature and change over time a natural play site in winter will feel very different to one in the summer.
The materials that are used are either very hard wearing such as granite or decomposable such as logs. The planting will improve over the years and replace the older trees and shrubs on site.
Play is about being free to be creative, experience new things, share, observe, copy, act out, build, change, destroy, pretend, explore and take risks, hide, run, jump, swing, balance, climb, sit, talk and have fun. Natural play ticks all the boxes!
And it’s not just for the young, any age or ability can be involved with natural play!
Natural Play sites:
Are you keen to take part in some natural play? Then get down to one of these sites!
Hull
Oak Road playfields, Beresford Avenue - climbing logs, seating, tunnels, nature trails, sound sculptures
Childrens' Wood, near Appleton Primary School - activity trail
Alderman and Kneeshaw playing fields, Amethyst Road - mounds, climbing logs, sound sculptures
Princess Elizabeth playing fields - pond dipping platforms
Rockford fields - ponds and dipping platform
East Yorkshire
Haltenmprice playing fields, Anlaby - stone sculptures
Burden Road playing fields, Beverley - climbing logs, trees
The Foreshore, Hessle - log bike trail
Ridding Lane playing fields, Rawcliffe - snail sculpture, trees
The Play Area, Nafferton - climbing logs, sculpture, picnic area, wildlife planting, willow dome
Aspen Close play area, Market Weighton - pond dipping platform
The Playing Fields, Swanland - trees, bird and bat boxes
The Play Area, Bempton - picnic area
Kirkham Road play area, Bridlington - climbing log
Rickerby Hall Field, Ulrome - picnic area, herb planting
Leven - bushcraft tents
The Playing Fields, Langtoft - willow dome, climbing logs and seating area
The Hut, Withernsea - vegetable and herb garden, bushcraft equipment
The Playing Fields, Skirpenbeck - orchard, willow dome, seating area
Contact
For more information please contact Harriet Linfoot by email.
