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Fourth Designs for Play Study Tour: Stirling – 11/12 September 2008

PATHFINDER AND PLAYBUILDER PRIORITY BOOKING PERIOD UNTIL 29 JULY 2008

Significant money is now to be spent on playgrounds and play spaces. We know Pathfinders and Playbuilders are under pressure to make expenditure decisions quickly. This need not mean simply replicating past practice.

There is also much talk about 'natural play', coupled with concerns about what this might mean in practice. For example, does 'natural' mean that dogs will roam freely in unfenced areas, that maintenance cost are always high? Will procurement processes allow play providers to create beautiful, play enabling playgrounds and play spaces?

The Study Tour is designed to question fundamentally how play is provided for but also to show just how different things can be. The three study tours thus far undertaken have received an enthusiastic response from each and every participant. Participants include: play officers; landscape architects; parks officers; children services and children’s centre managers; those responsible for fixed equipment playgrounds.

The Study Tour demonstrates just what can be done, based on a proven track record of dealing with the policy and practice realities on the ground. It also demonstrate the practical help PLAYLINK gives to play providers.

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The study tour includes:

• PLAYLINK's Unleashing Possibility Seminar that addresses fundamentals: risk and play; legal position; consultation; public perceptions of play; a critique of conventional play space
• Site visits to Stirling's urban and rural play areas - the opportunity to see practice in action and to discuss each with the designers and providers.
• Extended question and answer session for participants to raise their own questions and concerns. Comprehensive information pack including detailed site information.

Sue Gutteridge and Judi Legg, who together developed Stirling Council's innovative approach to the design and development of play space, will lead the study tour. In association with PLAYLINK the study tour will look at both theory and practice, the opportunities and potential pitfalls, of providing rich play environments that respond to children and young people's play needs and wishes.

Who should join PLAYLINK's Stirling Study Tour?

The study tour will be of interest of all those responsible for:

• providing for play, both at Officer and Member levels
• Pathfinder authorities
• Landscape Architects and Designers
• designing for play
• maintaining spaces for play
• health and safety inspectors.

The price of £615.00 plus VAT per person includes two nights accommodation, all meals and snacks and mini-bus travel during the study tour.

There will be a maximum of twelve participants on each study tour with three/four guides, ensuring the chance to discuss and share individual issues.

« Click here to book online now »