Families asked for expert tips for Saltram play project

Children and their families are going to be giving expert tips to teams tasked with making Saltram Park even more enjoyable and family-friendly.

They are being asked for their ideas on what makes a great play area and how to make the current play space in the park better.

An event is taking place on Saturday 3 August from 12 to 4pm at Saltram House to encourage families to get more involved in planning for the park’s future and to help them get into the swing of things, activities such as bush-craft, barefoot walking, wild art and pond-dipping will take place.

The session, which takes place at the play area next to the café, is organised by the Plymouth City Council’s Stepping Stones to Nature team and the National Trust, who have joined forces as part of a wider, long-term project to improve the popular park on the outskirts of Plymouth.

There is also a competition for young artists who are being encouraged to come up with play features. Their ideas will feed into the design and the competition entries will be exhibited at Saltram in the autumn.

Funding secured from the Council and National Trust means a better play area is on the cards but the team wants to hear from children about what they would like.

On the day and throughout the summer holidays, information, questionnaires and competition forms will be available from the play area and the cafe.

Adults can also fill in an online survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HTW2NLQ or download a questionnaire for adults or children and information on the design competition at www.plymouth.gov.uk/saltramplayproject.

The Saltram play project is part of ongoing work to deliver Saltram Countryside Park, an exciting and innovative project that will enable more people to appreciate and enjoy this important natural area.

The Masterplan was completed in 2011 and the Council is working with the National Trust to help deliver its aims. Work has been carried out to improve access into the park from Marsh Mills and more work to improve routes into Saltram will begin later this year.

For more information www.plymouth.gov.uk/saltrammasterplanconsultation

The project builds on the National Trust’s 50 things to do outdoors before you’re 11¾, a bid to help children reconnect with nature.

National Trust have been working with the Council’s Stepping Stones team over the past three years to encourage more Plymouth families to access the natural environment and this is another exciting step forward to improving facilities for local children. For more information visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/saltram.