Tag Archives: nature

Olympic playground plans unveiled

Posted on December 14, 2011 | 4 comments

The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) has announced the winners of the design competitions for the north and south hubs of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Congratulations to both winning teams, and commiserations to all the runners-up.

Continue reading →

4 Comments

Posted in Nature, Outdoor play, play, Play spaces, playground, Public space

Tagged , , , , , ,

Why does nature matter to children? What’s the evidence?

Posted on November 28, 2011 | 15 comments

Sowing the seeds literature review coverWhat happens when children spend time in natural environments – and what happens if they do not? What does the empirical evidence say? And what other insights might the research literature hold? These were the questions that I wanted to answer in my literature review [pdf link] for the Sowing the Seeds project – published on 17th November, alongside the main report. Continue reading →

15 Comments

Posted in Child development, Education, Health, Learning, Nature, Outdoor play, Public policy, Public space

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Risk benefit assessment in my own backyard (Part 2)

Posted on November 25, 2011 | 11 comments

Jozef toasting a marshmallowThe good news: the two fire-making sessions went very well. I felt that all the children engaged positively with the activities pretty much throughout. Six or seven parents emailed me afterwards to say how much their child enjoyed the evening. I don’t think they were just being polite. Continue reading →

11 Comments

Posted in Nature, Risk

Tagged , , , , ,

London moves to reconnect children with nature

Posted on November 18, 2011 | 21 comments

Sowing the seeds report front coverMy new report Sowing the Seeds: Reconnecting children with nature was launched at City Hall yesterday morning. The report, written for the London Sustainable Development Commission (the body that advises the Mayor of London on sustainability) sets out a new vision for children’s relationship with nature, and maps out an action plan to reintroduce nature into their lives.

Continue reading →

21 Comments

Posted in Child development, Health, Learning, Nature, Outdoor play, Public policy, Public space

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Risk benefit assessment in my own backyard (Part 1)

Posted on November 14, 2011 | 9 comments

Girl toasting marshmallow over a fireThis Thursday, I am running the first of two sessions in my back garden, for my local Woodcraft Folk group. The children will get the chance to use a fire steel to light a fire. I thought it would be interesting to carry out a risk benefit assessment (RBA) to help with my session planning. Continue reading →

9 Comments

Posted in Nature, Risk

Tagged , , , , ,

Can you help with my Oz trip?

Posted on October 9, 2011 | 39 comments

kangarooI’m en route to Australia, where I’ll be giving talks to childcare agencies and children’s rights bodies, working with public health officials, and networking with child-friendly city projects. And I’m looking to you, my readers, for  your ideas about how to make the trip more worthwhile. Continue reading →

39 Comments

Posted in Mobility, Outdoor play, Public policy, Risk, Urbanism

Tagged , , , , , ,