Creating natural play structures

Does your play space offer children the chance to climb, swing, spin, crawl, leap up or down, reach new heights and see the world from a different persespective?

Does your play space inspire children to consider building things themselves and offer them the possibility to do so?

During our day together, we will learn how to construct and use play structures using natural woodland resources, ropes and tools.  Together we will look at the impact of the structures we create on their surroundings, and formulate an understanding of the safety concerns and risk management approaches that may arise for different groups using the structures. We will also get to play on our structures and spend time experiencing and understanding the benefits first hand (yup - we will play!). 

We will cover structures that the group request. Commons creations on the day include: ladders and A-frame ladders, swings of different designs, creating beams between trees to wobble along, or to hold swings and platforms, creating temporary low rope courses...

This is a CPD course that balances theory, practical application and experiential learning.

We will:

• share safe working practices for the tools we use

• share a range of useful knots and their specific benefits and attributes for use in play structures

• playfully dive into creating ideas for a range of play structures and play features

• consider and practise ways of assessing the safety of play structures when building and using them

• discuss ways to assess and choose appropriate materials such as cordage, rope, and types of wood for different structures

• consider safe ways and minimum requirements for temporary rope swings and rope courses
  
  

Our hope is that you will leave with...

• greater confidence and skills to build your own play structures
• increased knowledge of knots and more knotting practice under your belt
• an understanding of how to assess structures for safety and how to mitigate risks

... and having had a fresh and nourishing day outdoors with other people, learning, creating and playing in the woods.

Workshop Tutor
Jon Cree
Jon has spent years of working with learners of all ages and played with ropes since his crawling days and later on into his climbing and caving days.  Climbing trees has always been in his blood especially when it means swinging from ropes!

He is an international trainer for the Institute for Earth Education and has spent his career training educators from many different backgrounds in outdoor and nature-based learning.

For 20 years Jon took the lead in the alternative curriculum team at The Bishops Wood Centre, for Worcestershire County Council, working with youngsters who struggle to thrive in mainstream educational settings.
Jon has increasingly taken an interest in emotional literacy, trauma, and somatic or body-based work, and how Forest School is an optimal setting for supporting learners to find their feet, passion, and a safe space in which to regulate and take their own risks without flipping into ‘panic and extreme anxiety’.
Jon was the founding chair of the Forest School Association (FSA) UK and he recently co-authored “The Essential Guide to Forest School and Nature Pedagogy” published by Routledge (2021).

Workshops at Bramblewood
Bramblewood is a completely outdoor woodland venue, so you will need to dress appropriately. We have 2 shelters available for wet weather and the fire will be lit for warmth / a cuppa when needed. Being a practical course, we will be out of the shelters and creating in whatever weather is offered that day. We have a private (not at all smelly) composting loo, as well as a wild wee area. 
All this within about half a mile of Worcester City Centre - who'd have thought it!?

Refreshments
Hot drinks and snacks are provided throughout the day. Please bring your own packed lunch - you are welcome to grill or toast things on the fire.