WHAT IS A NATURAL PLAY ENVIRONMENT?

What this means is that the school has an area within its playground for natural play allowing children to connect with the natural environment, create their own play, increase levels of activity and develop social and interpersonal skills. The natural play area incorporates the following features instead of the usual level tarmac playground:  - 

• ·         > Grass-covered hills;

• ·         > Trees in which to climb and to pick fruit from;

• ·         > Boulders to clamber over;

• ·         > Wildflowers and grasses;

• ·         > Wooden bridge and scrambling nets

• ·         > Mazes to hide in. 

This is a unique and wonderful opportunity for Merrylee Primary.  It is the first school in Scotland to benefit from having a natural play environment. The project will be used as a pilot which will form a template for future playgrounds at schools in the Glasgow area and will inform future natural play developments in school playgrounds throughout Scotland.  The children have named their new playground “the Urban Jungle”. 

BENEFITS OF NATURAL PLAY ENVIRONMENT 

Many studies have shown that play in natural environments is extremely beneficial for children’s emotional and physical development.  Some researchers go as far as to claim that limiting children’s outdoor play experience is likely to damage their physical, mental and emotional development and that contact with nature may be as important to children as good nutrition and adequate sleep.  Studies on Attention–Hyperactivity Deficit Disorder (ADHD) have shown that green outdoor spaces relieve the symptoms of the disorder. 

There can be no doubt therefore that the new playground at Merrylee Primary will be hugely beneficial to the school children.

Independent Research into Natural Play

To measure the impact that a ‘natural play area’ has on physical activity, classroom behaviour & attention, general well-being and self esteem, the Forestry Commission have requested an independent consultant carry out a lengthy research project on natural play in the school.

The research started at the end of November 2008 and will be conducted by Dr. Leslie Groves-Williams, a social anthropologist, currently working as an independent child rights and social development consultant. She has worked in Britain, Asia, South and Central America and Africa with different international agencies, including Save the Children, the UK Department for International Development, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Labour Organisation and so is a respected authority in this field.

She will interview pupils, staff and parents, observe the children at play and ask the pupils to participate in photography and video sessions, now and in a year’s time. It is hoped that the  expected positive impact of the play area will encourage authorities to have natural play areas in more schools, nationally.

Click here to see Dr. Groves-Williams baseline study report on natural play at Merrylee Primary School, Glasgow

DESIGN 

The new school playground has been designed by landscape architect, Felicity Steers, who is a parent of a pupil at Merrylee Primary and has devoted her time and talents to the project for free.  In order to finalize the design Felicity consulted with the pupils at Merrylee Primary and she has taken their ideas and used them as the basis for her innovative design.

FUNDING 

The total cost of the project is in the region of £100,000.  The Parent Council worked hard to raise the funds for this project, approaching over 100 companies for donations. Funding of £30,000 for the project has been secured from the Forestry Commission and Glasgow City Council is contributing a further £30,000. Newlands & Auldburn have contributed £16,000 and Renewable Energy Systems £1000. There is however a shortfall of £23,000 which is needed  to fully carry out the project. This is being addressed by fundraising activities, direct donations and a lot of hard work by the Parent Council to attract sponsorship during a failing economic environment. A lot of time and energy has been invested in this project to make it a reality. The head teacher, the Parent Council, staff, parents and pupils have all worked hard and gave up incalculable amounts of hours to see this project through. A lot of the tree-planting was physically done by volunteer parents (in the pouring rain) as money was running short. It was a huge effort by the school community to see this project through but it is still not completed to its full potential.

HOW CAN YOU HELP? 

We are therefore looking for any financial assistance that we can get to complete this project.  The completed project will serve as a blueprint for future playgrounds and will be an incredible asset for the pupils of Merrylee Primary. 

We therefore hope you can help us to enable this wonderful and unique project come to completion by providing whatever assistance you can. Please go to our 'Donate' page.

Work starts on the 'Urban Jungle'. 

Summer 2009 and the 'Urban Jungle' is starting to take shape. The hills, viewing 'amphitheatre', trees and log seats/stepping stones have been placed (these can also be used as an outdoor classroom area). There are barrels planted into the ground for 'hidey-holes' and the general layout is starting to show. There is still  lot to do and more money is needed to complete this project to it's full potential.