Research Papers by Free Play

Paper on Slow Design in Playscapes, this was written last year for a talk on Playscape Design.

Two more papers are being written:
- Where has the Beauty Gone from Playgrounds
- Structural transfer for Adventure Playgrounds to the Public Realm.

Recent Workshops run by Free Play

‘Maximising Opportunities for Natural Play’, 2009, Lambeth, London
Workshop for play workers, both theoretical and practical examples of natural play structures.

‘Structure Building Workshop’, 2008, London
This was a week-long course for playworkers from Adventure Playgrounds. They learnt how to design a play structure, the tools needed for its build, and built a large tyre swing, and sand pit.

‘Playworkers Forum’, 2008, Wales
Two day event. Part of this event was for the playworkers to build play structures from natural wood from the forest, they made some great structures. This venture will be the setting for the International Play Conference in 2011.

Workshops often run by Free Play include:

• Basic splicing.
• Mud Pizza Oven making, for young people or adults.
• Structure design workshops.
• Use of tools and power tools, in a play setting.
• Using plants and trees in a playscape.

Recent Talks by Grant Lambie

• Spirit of Adventure, 2009, Cardiff, “How to develop Slow Playscape Design in Adventure Playgrounds”.
• Green Spaces, 2009, Sheffield, Parks for Play, “Beyond Consultation, ‘Slow Build’ in Parks Play Provision”.
• PATH East London Play Conference, 2008, London, “Playing? In School?” Looking at special needs schools and developing their playscapes.
• London Play, Play Conference, 2008, London, “Extending the role of play in the school playgrounds”.
• Design Forum, Play England, 2007, London, “Slow Design for Playscapes”.
• Design Talk, UCLA, Los Angeles, 2006

Papers Available to Read Online

All Children Have a Right to Play
read online >

A Brief Analysis of the Play Value of Twelve Play Environments in Hackney
read online >

Slow Build for Playscapes
read online >

Book List

This is a group of books which I have enjoyed and which have affected my design practice.

see the Book List >

Film List

These are films where the central actor is a young person, giving a strange insight into their lives (if not the directors).

see the Film List >