Department of Landscape

Designing Outdoor Play Environments Conference 09 Designing Outdoor Play Environments is a conference with a difference. It is an opportunity for you to learn more about the design, risk, standards and the benefits of natural play environments. The hands on workshops will allow time away from the office so that you can concentrate on a site you are working on. Anyone who is currently involved in designing (or assessing) an outdoor play environment. In particular, those people involved in the delivery of the Pathfinder and Play Builder programmes: you may be employed by a local authority or a partner organisation working with local authority. You will have the opportunity to work on a real site in the workshop time. Bring along plans and photographs of the site and its surroundings. Also bring information about: • The physical aspects of the site such as landform, vegetation, paths and circulation; • Social aspects of the site – who lives, works, plays there or who might in the future; • The history of the site and its area; • Information about transport and access to the site; • Other play spaces, green spaces, school grounds, playing fields in the area. Choice of event dates and venues in 2009: Durham 20/21/22 July Sheffield 3/4/5 August Sheffield 7/8/9/September Exeter 14/15/16 September Aim The aim of this conference is to provide an opportunity to further develop people’s knowledge, skills and experience about designing outdoor play environments. Under pinning this will be the philosophy of why a different approach to the design of out door play environments is now needed to the one which has been used in England for many years and to look at the importance of how this may impact all aspects of design. The conference will include a range of speakers who will provide information about the contemporary policy and practice context for the design of outdoor play environments. There will also be ‘hands-on’ workshops where participants will be able to work on one of their own sites. These workshops will be facilitated by CABE Space Enablers who have experience of designing outdoor play environments. The events are supported by Play England who recommend their value to anyone working with and for local authority play pathfinders and play builders as part of the government's £235 million programme for improving outdoor play spaces. Speakers Aileen Shackell Aileen is a landscape architect with many years' experience of working on parks and open spaces, including a number of sites of historic importance, both in the private sector and at Groundwork. Aileen was the principal author of 'Design for Play,' published by the DCSF and Play England in summer 2007. She now runs her own landscape practice (Aileen Shackell Associates - www.asa-landscape.com) and has developed a strong specialism in play space design. David Ball David’s field of interest is how decisions are made in relation to safety, health, environment, technology and business. One issue to have crossed his path is that of playground safety, first encountered in 1986, but which has never gone away. The issue is still very much alive, and has spilled over into the management of public risk in general. Dave Yearley David is Head of Play Safety for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and is Treasurer of the international Play Association: Promoting the Child's Right to Play. He is responsible for running the largest playground inspection service in the country, as well as maintaining representation on many committees and forums. Helen Woolley Helen is a Chartered Landscape Architect, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Landscape at the University of Sheffield and a CABE Space Advisor. Helen is also a Director of the Centre for the Study of Childhood and Youth, which is a multi-disciplinary research centre within the University of Sheffield. Keith Dalton Keith is a Director of The Play Inspection Company and has been employed in children’s play provision for more than 20 years. Since January 2003 he has specialised in the provision of Inspection, Training and Consultancy services to the industry and is a registered Annual Inspector with the RPII (Register of Playground Inspectors International) and also currently Technical Director for this organisation. He has recently been involved in the development of a number of ‘Natural Play Spaces, acting on a consultative basis for Local Government. Robin Sutcliffe Robin Sutcliffe is Managing Director of Sutcliffe Play Ltd. Robin is a significant authority representing his industry at regional, national and European levels, as an expert on the safety of children at play, the topics of inclusivity and risk in the playground, play space design, community consultation and the role of play in regeneration. Tim Gill Tim is one of the UK’s leading thinkers on childhood and an effective advocate for change. His work focuses on children’s play and free time. Tim’s book No Fear: Growing up in a risk-averse society was published in 2007 and he is co-author of Managing Risk in Play Provision: Implementation Guide, published by Play England in 2008. Tim has advised leading NGOs, political parties and public bodies, and appears regularly in the media. His website is www.rethinkingchildhood.com. Stuart Lester Stuart has worked for many years in a variety of play projects and is currently Senior Lecturer in Playwork at the University of Gloucestershire and an Independent Playwork Trainer and Adviser. Wendy Russell Wendy currently works part time as Senior Lecturer in Play and Playwork at the University of Gloucestershire and part time as a freelance consultant and researcher. She has been in the Playwork sector for over thirty years, having worked on adventure playgrounds and in Playwork development, education and training. Cost £440 Per Person for Two Day Event – Places are limited Cost Includes: Welcome reception Evening meal on arrival 2 nights en-suit accommodation 2 breakfasts and lunches Conference dinner Speakers and workshop facilitators

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