It offers children the chance to spend time exploring a piece of land such as woods, parks or playing fields near to their nursery or school. The project is funded through the Big Lottery.
What does it involve? The scheme is designed to teach children about the wildlife that lives in local open spaces. Staff also encourage imaginative play, using the local environment, such as fallen leaves and sticks on the ground. Lily Horseman, a consultant working on the project, believes young children need to use open play spaces to understand their local environment, particularly in urban areas like Bradford.
Anything else? The funding for the project ends this October but BCEP is hoping that nurseries and schools will run their own activity sessions in nearby open spaces. BCEP has developed a guidance document to help others. Jen Scott, BCEP environmental play worker, explains: "We still meet with professionals who work in settings who don't have the confidence to take children to the woods or a playing field and offer the children the chance to play in a different way."
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