Guildford Borough Council celebrated Love Outdoor Play Week through the fitting medium of their very own weekly, free PlayRanger sessions last week (17-21.03.14).
The annual event aims to:
- Celebrate the value of outdoor play
- Increase the use of green spaces by families living in urban surroundings
- Inform the designing/planning for public open space.
These aims inexorably link to what the Playrangers do on a weekly basis in the parks and open spaces within our local community. And so all they needed to do was plan something suitably grand and packed full of fun at their usual sites in Pirbright, Ash, Westborough, Chilworth, and Bellfields for it to be a success.
The PlayRangers offered a fantastic assortment of playful opportunities for children and young people to engage with and enjoy. Once the children had it started, the fire bowl was roaring all week and once the marshmallows had been freed from the padlocked chest, they were roasted on it in traditional style. To get the marshmallows the children undertook a treasure hunt using a GPS where they explored the local area and located the numbers required to open the padlock.
As well as that, Red Phoenix, a professional storyteller, took residence in a wonderfully adorned rouge tent; her compelling stories of dragons thrust the children into an imaginative landscape bringing the other play and activities to life. Whether it was making flags using paint and stitches with artists ‘Think, Make, Do’ or constructing catapults, from expending their energy blending fruit on a smoothie bike to free play, imaginative quests or rope swings… the sessions were a hub of energy.
The first half of the week was decorated in sun, which bolstered the numbers; however, children continued to come out as the days became windier and windier. In fact, by Thursday the storyteller’s tent could not go up for the wind, though this did not deter Mayor Councillor Lockyer-Nibbs, who was happy to brave the cold and get thoroughly involved. The children of course were not concerned in the slightest by the weather and enjoyed the additional game of racing the gusts, chasing equipment as it blustered by.
Over 200 children helped celebrate this annual event with the PlayRangers and made the week extra special and fun. As well as children and families enjoying the playful spaces throughout the week, practitioners representing nurseries, youth groups and play schemes came along too, hoping to gain ideas and show their support. The PlayRangers were also joined by a number of Councillors and community officers throughout the week and they wish to thank them and you for your continued support and enthusiasm.
Thank you everyone for coming out to play!
Tom Burgess
Guildford PlayRangers is a play service aimed at 8 to 12 year olds. PlayRangers recognise the importance of children being able to play outdoors freely, actively and safely. Playrangers deliver outdoor play opportunities where qualified and experienced play workers visit parks and open spaces within local communities, supporting and encouraging children to play freely outdoors. The Play Ranger Project is an open access service which means children are free to come and go as they please. PlayRangers deliver from scheduled parks and open spaces and come equipped with lots of play resources, games and ideas. All Playranger sessions run from 3.30pm to 5.30pm.