BROCKLEY: New 'Facelift' For Hilly Fields Playground (From News Shopper)

BROCKLEY: New 'Facelift' For Hilly Fields Playground

11:20am Thursday 11th February 2010 in

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Local residents group, 'The Friends of Hilly Fields', has been developing ideas for Hilly Fields Playground for many years.

The park is a popular and well used one, with panoramic views across the City, its fun fairs, music bands and farmers markets held one Sunday each month throughout the summer.

Now that the group has secured a ‘Big Lottery Changing Places Grant’ along with DCSF (Department for Children, Schools and Families) and Lewisham Council funding, it will be ‘out with the old and in with the new’ this spring, when they finally get to transform a worn, traditional playground, into a vibrant, natural play area.

Rachel Mooney, Chair of The Friends of Hilly Fields said, “We want children to be able to choose and experience a wide range of play opportunities, to explore and interact with the physical world around them.

“By creating a natural environment within the playground, we will provide the setting for a quality non-prescriptive play experience that is constantly changing.”

The new playground will integrate plants and natural materials with existing and new play equipment, to encourage tactile and imaginative play.

It will also incorporate equipment suitable for children with special needs and altogether be more appealing to children of all ages, as well as more comfortable for adults and carers to be able to sit back, relax and socialise.

The group wanted to involve local children in the project, so invited Gordonbrock Primary School pupils to design new gates for the entrance to the new playground.

The childrens’ design draws upon inspiration from wildlife around the Hilly Fields area – different types of grasses, plants, flowers, and insects.

APT Studios, of Creekside Deptford, were also involved in hosting an art workshop and exhibition for the young designers to show off their drawings, with plenty of proud parents on hand to view their childrens' work.

The newly designed gates and playground should be completed this May, when all are welcome to come along to the official ‘opening’ ceremony.

We will keep you informed as events unfold.