Reflections on the Outdoors, Play and Everyday
Less than ten percent of children get to visit the natural environment as part of the school day, despite growing evidence that outdoor play and learning transforms children’s wellbeing.
Continue reading “Why don’t (most) schools get outdoors more? “
This evening I walked home from Kings Cross along a canal. There were ducks and coots. It was cool, but not cold. There were many lush plants and grassy areas and some great smells. Continue reading “Why urban wandering is good for the soul…”
Hackney Today interview with Outdoor People’s Cath Prisk , discussing the growth from market stall to partner in a global campaign. Continue reading “Defending children’s right to play outdoors”
When children play, their imagination lets them conjure up just about anything from their surroundings – from turning a cardboard box into a rocket ship or an obstacle course into the slopes of an erupting volcano.
74% of children in the UK get outdoors for less than an hour a day[1] – far less than the recommended daily outdoor time for prisoners, and even less than the average pensioner[2]. This is the headline stat from market research conducted by Edelman Berland for the Unilever Dirt is Good campaign. It was a global piece of market research, and you won’t be surprised that out of the ten countries surveyed, the UK came out worst.
This blog is specifically about how I’ve got involved in this particular campaign and why I think it is important. I hope you do too.
Continue reading “Dirt is Good… taking the play campaign global”
This is a repost from the brill folks at the Policy Studies Institute, first published on 29 July 2015. Link to original artcle here. I use these stats so often I thought I’d just repost the artricle. Enjoy!
Continue reading “Children’s Independent Mobility: An International Comparison”
Better for us, better for all our children, for the economy and society, and much much better for the planet. Take a listen to this great podcast!
Continue reading “Must listen – Richard Louv on how we can create a Nature Rich Future”
“Access to nearby nature is part of having decent housing, schools, transport and public services.” Love that Tanya Byron is supporting Sowing The Seeds! Continue reading “Tanya Byron supports Sowing the Seeds London”
Last night I cycled back from Westminster to East London and just as I got over the Old Street roundabout I felt an increasingly familiar sense of ‘Nearly home’. As I turned into London Fields, Hackney, I smiled. This is my place.
What does that mean? What is Kith? Continue reading “Building a Sense of Place”
Well it’s the beginning of December!!
Just a quick note to say we are having a small gathering on this Sunday, 6th December, the first ‘Netil Noel’ at Netil Market (Westgate St, Hackney) to celebrate the shop being open and Christmas coming. There will be some spot sales, music from Steve Folk and others and a chance to meet other outdoors enthusiastic peeps! And to check out all our lovely new stuff…
For more details click here.
Continue reading “First party at Netil Market and Dangerous Play Update…”