A New Playground
The Royal Parks charity has opened a new inclusive playground in Greenwich Park.
The charity’s Chief Executive, Andrew Scattergood, opened the bespoke £350,000 maritime-themed playground in a ceremony attended by local families. This was followed by party games and activities and the children were invited to plant the final blooms in the playground’s planting scheme, with flowers chosen for scent and colour to create a sensory experience.
The playground was built thanks to generous support from the London Marathon Charitable Trust. The Trust is also co-funding a three-year play programme with The Royal Parks to help children spend more time outdoors and actively play in nature, in partnership with local charity, London Play.
The Royal Parks worked closely with the local community, including Greenwich Parent Voice, a group of parents with children with special educational needs or disabilities, to ensure that the layout is as inclusive as possible for children of all ages and abilities.
Children can immerse themselves in a nature-inspired setting which uses loose, textured and natural materials such as logs, rope and bark to blend in with the park’s landscape. Features include a basket swing, roundabout, and plenty of sand and water play. Play elements are positioned both at ground level and in raised channels of varying height, so that children with disabilities and able-bodied children can play together.
