Natural Play at the NEC
Happy childhood memories of building dens and tree houses, and messing about on the beach all formed part of the debate at the Natural Play seminar this spring.
Taking place at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre and chaired by Liz Lake, the event featured speakers including children’s campaigner and writer Tim Gill, senior groundworks landscape architect Adam White and Helle Nebelong, chief landscape architect at the city of Copenhagen.The nostalgia for past childhoods was prompted by Tim Gill - described by Liz Lake as having ‘ a big understanding of little people’ – who invited members of the packed audience to share their memories. Common themes were of happy days spent playing outside and making creative use of natural objects and materials. The subject is high on Gill’s agenda in his campaigning for more natural play areas free from fixed play equipment.