Natural play area Design

multi-age play

Natural play and sensory play - sandpits, digging areas, water play, trees to climb - the fun stuff of childhood - is becoming increasingly important in public playgrounds. Public funding has shrunk as health and inequality concerns have risen, requiring playgrounds designs to incorporate many more elements than traditional play equipment.

Sustainable landscape-led natural play playgrounds design promotes sustainable communities. Picnic areas that encourage families to linger and enjoy inclusive outdoor play opportunities will complement healthy eating at home.

As our climate changes, shade trees in natural play areas are becoming increasingly important. Edible fruit trees around playgrounds provide shade, scented blossom, add bio diversity and importantly will add to locally produced food stocks, promoting healthy living,healthy eating. Fruit trees are generally good climbing trees too!

Childhood development requires activities such as climbing, swinging, balancing to develop gross motor and then fine motor skills. Imaginative play can happen anywhere. Where play designers are encouraged to provide cost effective designs, where there is less playground equipment but more flexible open ended play, the space is adaptable and the environment suggestive. Public playground design, like school playground design, can and should accommodate these needs. 

Natural play is not only found on the urban fringe. In urban skate parks it is possible to provide natural elements, with large boulders, planting and contoured play surfaces.

- specialist play designers

natural play - a swing seat under a treehouse

Greenstone Design UK are specialist play designers for natural play. We incorporate play equipment within a landscaped setting for local authorities, special educational needs and mainstream schools, Children's Centres, care homes, and community social and therapeutic horticulture groups. Inclusive inter-generational play spaces help local authorities develop sustainable communities, working with the community and existing partnerships .

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- child-led play

Control of their own play activity is a crucial factor in enriching children’s experience and enhancing their development. Play provision should be based on the principle of empowering the child and increasing their choices. This should include children’s participation in devising, building and rebuilding their physical play environment. Sustainable playground designers must heed this need for flexibility and adaptability in natural playground designs.

School play grounds can be magical places when sympathetically designed. Public playgrounds, like schools, require a variety of play elements. Natural and built structures can combine for low maintenance, beneficial risk, high impact play.

Increasingly, the non-school environment is perceived as unsafe for children’s play. Schools are one of the few places left where parents still feel it safe to send their children. This offers schools the opportunity to be part of the process of reawakening both parents and children to the possibilities and benefits of play.