Bristol Adventure Playgrounds

Bristol Adventure Playgrounds

Adventure Playgrounds have been around in the UK for over 60 years, but with funding cuts affecting services across the UK, what might happen in Bristol?

To set the scene first, let’s remind ourselves of some of the history involved. In 1931, a Danish architect named Sorenson came up with the concept of a ‘junk’ playground as a result of his observations of children at play on construction sites and junkyards. He proposed a space where children would be permitted to play in ways otherwise prohibited to them and realised his vision years later during the German Occupation.

The children’s rights campaigner, Lady Allen of Hurtwood, identified with the ethos of this type of play and promoted the idea in England. After considerable opposition to a ‘junk’ playground, the name was changed to adventure playground and with the support of local and national organisations, the first playgrounds opened in London in the late 1940’s. They were set up on sites which had been bombed and across the country were opened in blighted or blitzed neighbourhoods, involving children in the design and operation of these spaces.

In this post war period, one aspect of Lady Allen’s thinking was that playing in these more derelict spaces and fostering a democratic community with the children’s involvement, would help children heal the scars of war and the experiences they had been through. It is this idea of restoring children’s emotional health that is maybe the most pertinent aspect to the enduring nature of adventure playgrounds and the continued choice of children to freely spend time in them. Some 60 years on from their first arrival, adventure playgrounds may not need to provide the same type of healing necessary post WW2, but in an adult-led society with more risk aversion and less free wild spaces to explore, adventure playgrounds provide a chance to explore the other elements of human nature and provide a different outlet and experience. Providing an opportunity for local children to experience risky and adventurous play, sharing, cooperation, belonging and ownership, adventure playgrounds could be said to provide essential services within communities.

Bristol has a rich history of adventure playgrounds, many of which have been running since the 1970’s. Local children from areas around St Pauls, Easton Lockleaze, Southmead and Windmill Hill have all benefitted from these open access provisions, with children from across the city traveling to their nearest site.

Unfortunately, the way in which Bristol’s Adventure Playgrounds are funded has recently changed. Previously, the services were either funded directly by Bristol City Council or, in the case of Windmill Hill, funding from Bristol City Council was received by Windmill Hill City Farm to run the provision. Last year, Bristol City Council undertook a commissioning process to provide youth and play services across the city, which covers adventure playgrounds. The outcome of this process was announced last September: the city was divided into 7 areas with a consortium and lead partner for each; £22 milllion was allocated over 5 years for youth and play; Councillor Gary Hopkins appeared confident that ‘when other councils are slashing funding for youth services, Bristol City Council is committed…(to)…..ensure there are quality services for children….to meet the needs of local communities’, but it now seems less clear.

The current situation is that St Pauls, Felix Rd, Lockleaze and Southmead playgrounds are continuing their existing services in the short term whilst local consortiums review what is being provided and create a plan for the future. However, this plan could include closure of sites, reductions in services and/or provisions of new services. Bristol City Council owns the buildings themselves and what would happen to these buildings if sites were closed is unclear.

A girl on a rope swing in an adventure playground

Windmill Hill City Farm has sadly had the funding for its adventure playground withdrawn and the adventure playground closed at the beginning of February. This is a huge loss for the community. Sarah Rowland, Leader, stated in the Evening Post “The closure has come as a real blow as there is nowhere else in the local community where the kids can go and enjoy activities for free.” She and another staff member have been transferred across to work for the lead partner in their area’s consortium, Learning Partnerships West. It is not known currently if any services could resume at a later date or what other plans might be in place.

In terms of numbers of children affected so far, around 100 children per session came to Windmill Hill City Farm Adventure Playground, with around 250 children registered in total. So there are 100 children per evening and weekend looking for somewhere else to explore. These fit with average numbers across the UK for adventure playgrounds so we can assume that there is a minimum of a further 1000 children registered across the city for the other four playgrounds, who may be affected by a cut in services.

As long term consequences, ‘Matrix: an economic evaluation of play provision’ 2010 by Play England concluded that for every £1 that is spent on adventure playground provision, £1.32 is recouped. This is as a result of long term benefits to health and education as a result of increased wellbeing in childhood. So cuts to these services now could result in higher costs further along the line.

To sum up, it’s clear that Adventure playgrounds have a rich history in the UK and there are large benefits for children and young people in our communities, to the communities in which they reside and to the long term costs incurred by society. Funders, Bristol decision makers, local representatives and the community need to be aware of the emotional, health and monetary benefits of these provisions before any further decisions to cut or reduce services are made.

If you would like to show your support for Bristol Adventure Playgrounds, you could:

sign a petition –www.ipetitions.com/petition/supportbristolplay/ and/or contact your local councillor, MP or consortium leader http://www.bristol.gov.uk/press/children-and-young-people/contracts-announced-new-bristol-youth-links-service

Sarah Holway, Development and Support, BAND.

This is an article from the BAND newsletter – to recieve a copy please contact the office at admin@bandltd.org.uk

Posted on Thursday, 21st February 2013

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