Wild Play at Northumberlandia

Need

Sedentary lifestyles are creating physical and mental health problems for our children. 1/10 children under 11 are now diagnosed with a mental health issue. 1/5 children aged 10/11 are obese.
There is considerable evidence that children are increasingly disconnected from nature and 4/5 have no direct contact with it. Our natural assets are in decline and people will not protect what they don't care about.
Northumberlandia needs to evolve its facilities to remain open as a community asset.

Solution

Creating a woodland play area will encourage children to explore and play in an unstructured way where they have direct contact with nature. This will increase physical activity , increase knowledge of their natural heritage and promote positive behaviours such as social interaction, problem solving and self-confidence. Northumberlandia will have a new facility that will attract new audiences and encourage repeat visits and will continue to be used by the local community.

Aim 1

Reconnect children with nature

Activities

» Encourage 'wild' play in a natural woodland setting

What success will look like

We will conduct surveys about usage of the site and what children (and parents) have learned. We hope to demonstrate that they went on to enjoy other facilities and other reserves.

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Aim 2

Help improve children's physical and mental health

Activities

» Promote physical activity and mental challenge through unstructured play in an outdoor setting

What success will look like

A simple survey (with parents) will check positive feelings after their wild play experience.

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Aim 3

Help to secure the future of Northumberlandia as a community facility

Activities

» Continually add new facilities to attract new audiences and repeat visits

What success will look like

We will monitor increased visitor numbers (auto counter) and satisfaction ratings via a questionnaire.

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Impact

We hope to inspire people to value nature and to change their behaviour to support wildlife and green infrastructure as well as making contact with nature part of their own health regime.
We will be able to measure attitudinal changes (by survey) and an increase in support for our own organisation (campaigners, donations or membership).

Risk

We need employ a reputable contractor to install the equipment. We have already used a company for another site and have had no issues.
We need to raise sufficient funds and will be applying for grants from charitable trusts.

Reporting

Details will be available on our website www.nwt.org.uk, in our annual report and at Northumberlandia.

Budget - Project Cost: £25,000

	Amount	Heading	Description
	£25,000	Equipment	Capital purchase and installation of equipment

Location

Northumberlandia is the world's largest human landform sculpture set in 46 acres of parkland near Cramlington in Northumberland.

Beneficiaries

Families, with children under 11