Happy Faces in Green Spaces
Thanks to funding from Natural England, BCHC Charity worked with Family Hubs in Hodge Hill and Sutton Coldfield to deliver a 'Nature Play' project to help families learn about nature and experience the benefits of getting outdoors.
Outdoor play can have a hugely positive impact on children; from lowering stress and improving overall wellbeing, to encouraging physical activity and improving socialisation with other children. Natalie Haymes, Community Liaison Lead for Hodge Hill and Sutton Coldfield Family Hubs, told us that “outdoor play is essential for physical development, mental health, and social interaction. Equipping children for safe outdoor play also contributes to school readiness.” Family Hub Manager Rifat Shaheen added that “families with no gardens benefit from outdoor space in parks as it allows children to let off steam and develop resilience by exploring new environments.”
Approximately 46% of children in Bromford & Hodge Hill live in low-income households, and Hodge Hill is home to a high proportion of young families, many of whom have limited outdoor space. Rifat explained how important it is to provide support in Sutton Coldfield too, as they are often “forgotten” due to the perception that it is a more affluent area. Despite this, there are pockets of deprivation such as Falcon Lodge, where the need is just as great.
As part of our Nature Play project, we provided six outdoor activity sessions in local green spaces across Hodge Hill and Sutton Coldfield during the October and February half terms. In total, 74 children and 35 parents or carers attended the sessions, which were run by the Spurgeon's team at the Family Hubs. The team have a good relationship with the families and were able to get everyone engaged and having fun. BCHC Charity also funded an arts facilitator from Arts Therapies UK to deliver outdoor craft, storytelling, and dance and movement activities.
The families who attended the sessions really enjoyed themselves, and told us that, “It was nice to have the event in the park and work with nature. The children loved it and it was all free”, and “The children have really loved it. They found so many bugs and worms, and they liked getting messy. We would do this again.” The activity sessions included craft activities such as using autumn leaves to make hedgehogs, as well as bug hunting to encourage families to notice new things in nature. Families were also given information about easy plants to grow on balconies or windowsills to help the bee and butterfly populations even when you may not have a garden of your own.
Feedback from the sessions was very positive; with 92% of families saying they would visit their local park or green space more often. 67% of families felt more confident playing with their children in nature, and families also reported feeling happier, calmer, and more energised after taking part in the nature play sessions.
The funding also allowed BCHC Charity to provide the Family Hubs with resources to continue delivering activities outdoors for years to come, including outdoor games, bug hunting kits, picnic rugs, and story books such as 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt'. We would like to say a huge thank you to Natural England, for making this project possible.