Since the 1950s, Hackney’s adventure playgrounds have been important spaces for generations of local children, where they can play freely and where anything seems possible. This blog explores the rich history of adventure play across Hackney, Shoreditch and Stoke Newington.
What are adventure playgrounds?
Adventure playgrounds are unique spaces that support children to be independent. They are not designed by adults but grow organically, shaped by the children who play there and how they use the space.
Handmade structures are usually made from salvaged materials. The salvaged materials can be adapted and transformed to become play equipment in ways the children choose. The playgrounds are full of everyday objects, junk materials and loose parts that can be played with in any number of ways. The spaces are always changing as children create, experiment, build, destroy and rebuild.
Adventure Playgrounds are staffed by playworkers, trained and experienced professionals whose work is underpinned by a large amount of theory. A playworker helps children create a space where they can play freely, and ensures that the playground caters for different types of play. Playworkers understand that children play in their own way for their own reasons, and trust them to control their adventures. They only get involved when needed. In this managed environment, children learn to understand risks while growing in confidence.
“We would build our own play structures. We also built our own aerial runway. We got stuff from the chandlers in the docks and the way we tested it was two of us went down and sat on it to make sure it was safe.”
David Walters, playleader of Shoreditch Adventure playground in the early 1970s
Adventure play in Hackney
The first adventure playgrounds in London appeared in the late 1940s and 1950s. They were mainly on World War Two (1939-1945) bomb sites, and were usually temporary, only opened during the spring and summer months. In these adventure playgrounds, many of the structures were built by the children themselves.
The first local adventure playground opened in Shoreditch in 1955, using a derelict bombsite belonging to the London County Council in Basing Place. It was temporary, providing a much needed haven for children during the summer holidays. Among the playworkers was Donne Buck (1934-2023), a recent arrival from New Zealand in need of a job. Buck went on to become a leading figure in playwork, establishing a number of adventure playgrounds both in and out of London.
In the 1970s adventure playgrounds with more permanent sites opened in Hackney. These included: Apples and Pears (now Pearson Street), Evergreen (later called Holly Street), Hackney Marsh, Homerton Grove, Shakespeare Walk, and Shoreditch. In 1988 Equal Play Adventure Playground opened in Upper Clapton.
All of the adventure playgrounds were led by dedicated playworkers, and were rooted in ideas of community action and children’s rights.
“The kids were pretty feral. You look back at seventies’ kids and they’re just so different. It’s like another age. They were fearless, you know. There was a boy who would shin up a telegraph pole.”
Alan Rossiter, Senior Play Leader, Hackney Marsh Adventure Playground, early 1970s
Hackney Play Association
Hackney Play Association is a nationally recognised advocate for play. It was founded in 1972 to campaign for improved play provision for children and young people in the London Borough of Hackney. Over the years it has been an important voice for play and play provision, running various projects and activities as well as playwork training. Today, its activities include running Homerton Grove and Pearson Street adventure playgrounds.
In 1996, Hackney Play Association partnered with playworkers to create the first ever play-specific quality assurance system, Quality in Play. Originally a self-assessed system, it is now externally assessed by Play England with the aim of rolling it out as the leading quality assurance scheme for play providers in the country.
“While adventure playgrounds definitely do encourage children to take physical risks, they’re so much more than the structures. In fact structures aren’t even necessary. It’s about the ethos of children having control over their play and ownership over the space.”
Kerri Burton, playworker and parent
Content for this blog featured in the exhibition ‘Celebrating Hackney’s Adventure Playgrounds’ at Hackney Museum 15 February – 1 June 2024.