Natural England - Natural Play to reduce childhood obesity rates in London
Natural Play to reduce childhood obesity rates in London
15 March 2010
A new campaign to promote benefits of natural play for the Capital’s young people was launched today by London Play with funding from Natural England and City trading firm ICAP.
Children benefiting from natural play
“Natural Play Invaders” aims to reconnect children with their local green spaces so they can have fun in the outdoors and enhance their educational and social development.
New research shows that woodlands, countryside and parks have become out of bounds to London’s younger generation with fewer playing in such places due to factors like busy traffic and concerns about strangers.
There are currently 1.73 million children and young people under the age of 18 in London; this is expected to rise to almost 2 million by 2016. With more children staying indoors to play, London’s young population has higher childhood obesity rates (18%) than anywhere else in the country.
The “Natural Play Invaders” campaign aims to address these issues by providing local communities with a set of portable natural play elements that can be placed in public space for a day, weekend or permanently. It includes sand pits and tree trunks of different shapes and sizes that can be used by children for climbing, hiding behind, den making, or as landmarks that provide a backdrop for imaginative play.
Alison Barnes, Natural England’s London Director said “Play is the natural way that children learn, develop their ideas and interests, explore their surroundings and develop physical and social skills. We are delighted to be supporting Natural Play Invaders and hope it will inspire the Capital’s children to explore the wild side of the city.”
Ute Navidi, CEO London Play said “These portable play elements are available to hire to facilitate consultations with children about play improvements in schools, children’s centres and in public parks, or they can be hired just to have fun playing on them.”
“Natural Play Invaders” will be visiting a number of schools and parks over the coming months, to find out more information please contact jamie@londonplay.org.uk or phone 0207 272 9266, or see the brochure on the website.
ENDS
Notes to editors
For more information or to arrange interviews and photographs, please contact:
Adam Elwell (Natural England Press Officer), Telephone: 0300 060 0965 or 07814501780
or Nigel Ellway (Natural England Press Officer), Telephone: 0300 060 1372 or 07900 608204.
Key findings of Natural England’s national Childhood and Nature survey
Children spend less time playing in natural places, such as woodlands, countryside and heaths than they did in previous generations. Less than 10% play in such places compared to 40% of adults when they were young.
The most popular place for children to play is in their home, while for adults it was outdoors in local streets. 62 % of children said they played at home indoors more than any other place. 42 % of adults said they played outdoors in local streets more than in any other place.
Three quarters of adults claimed to have had a patch of nature near their homes and over half went there at least once or twice a week. 64% of children reckon they have a patch of nature near their homes but less than a quarter go there once or twice a week.
The favourite places to play have changed over time. In the past these were in the streets, near home (29%), indoors (16%) and in some natural places (15%) whereas nowadays children like playing indoors best (41%) and, to a lesser extent, in the garden (17%).
The majority of children (over 70%) say they are supervised wherever they play, except only 52% are supervised in the garden and 31% in the streets near their homes. This rises to over 80% in natural places.
The grandparents' generation had slightly more freedom than the younger adults and most feel that children have less freedom today (87%). The parents’ generation were a little more likely to have played at organised venues but still feel that they had more freedom than children today.
Parents would like their children to be able to play in natural spaces unsupervised (85%) but fears of strangers and road safety prevent them from giving much freedom to their children.
Children would like more freedom to play outside (81%). Nearly half of the children say they are not allowed to play outside unsupervised and nearly a quarter are worried to be out alone.
Traditional outdoor activities are as popular now as they were in the past with all achieving a mean score of more than 3 out of 5. Building a camp or den and exploring rock pools on the beach were and still are the most popular activities.
There is little difference in attitudes across the country and little difference in attitudes based on whether adults and children live in urban or rural communities.
Launch Event
The Natural Play Invaders campaign will be launched at Tweeddale Primary School. Spokespeople from Natural England and London Play will be available for interviews between 9am – 12 noon.
Tweeddale Primary School
Carshalton
Surrey SM5 1SW
Natural England
Natural England
works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings. For further information about Natural England please visit: www.naturalengland.org.uk
London Play
London Play aims for every child in London to have quality, accessible and inclusive play opportunities, near to their home. Children benefit from free play, (free of charge, free to come and go, free to choose what to do), as it helps them to stay fit, have fun and make friends, developing sympathy, empathy and resilience for themselves at the same time as reducing the risk of obesity, anxiety and depression.
Charity no. 104731, Company no. 4055882. 89-93 Fonthill Road, London N4 3JH. For more information visit the London Play website.
