Saturday, July 16, 2011

Health and Safety "stifling childhood"

Judith Hackitt, the Chair of the Health & Safety Executive has recently claimed that "jobsworth" bureaucrats are creating joyless playgrounds as a result of overuse of regulations.

She states that: "The creeping culture of risk-aversion and fear of litigation...puts at risk our children's education and preparation for adult life. Playgrounds have become joyless, for fear of a few bruises."

Let us hope that this tide continues to turn!

Play is recommended in new physical activity guidelines

The new Physical Activity Guidelines are the first UK-wide
guidelines to be published. The guidelines form part of Start
Active, Stay Active, a report from all four Chief Medical Officers
across the UK. This report describes the evidence behind the
development of the new guidelines and illustrates how
individuals can achieve their physical activity
recommendations.


The guidelines and the report can be downloaded from the
Department of Health website here.

My Playground - Urban Space!

Check out this short film by Kaspar Astrup Schröder that explores the way Parkour and Freerunning is changing the perception of urban space and how that space is changing the traceurs and freerunners.

Mainly set in Copenhagen the film follows the making of the first dedicated parkour park in the world, designed by the danish team, Team JiYo.

"What's fascinating is the way of transforming the city. Because you can't change it physically—you can't go and move the light post or the staircase—but you can change the way you are looking at it and the way you use it. And in that way make it your own." —Signe Højbjerre, freerunner, Team Jiyo

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Hattie frolics in Welsh woods!


Hattie spent the weekend in Wales at a 'Playcamp' as a prelude to the IPA conference in Cardiff - it involved some interesting activities such as lugging this 23m tree trunk through fields....!

She hopefully recovers in time to give her presentation at the conference, the title of which is:
'How can we create a playful public realm?'

In case you are at the IPA conference on monday 4th July, make sure to catch her at 2.00pm in room K...