PLAYLINK / Free Play Network

"Play Areas in Thamesdown"

I have just found this booklet in the London Play library, published about 15 years ago with lots of photos of brilliant play areas in Swindon. Peter Debbage wrote it, and explains how the landscape architects would first design a playful environment with changes of level, planting and facilities to encourage social play, and then see where the cimbing wall, ball play area, swings, roundabouts and slides would best fit in.

Are they still just as good??? If so they must be worth a visit. Is Peter Debbage still at work in the field???
Posted by: Alan Sutton, Policy Officer, london play, -1 June 2020, 1-:29

Hi Alan
also emailed to you at londonplay

DON'T DESTROY TREES BY PHOTOCOPYING!

Scan it into a computer - either using a flatbed scanner- somebody must have one, or take good photos on a reasonable digital camera - something with a 3X optical zoom [not 'digital zoom' optical zoom] and 4megapixels - flat lighting, no hotspots or shadows, pages flat camera 'flat on' to the pamphlet. Don't use flash because it will make glare.

That will give you a pile of big JPG files- so

- email them to me and I'll do the rest of the work for you -

basically it involves taking each file and adding it to a PDF, then compress it so it is no longer ginormous. (Unless you have converted jpg files to PDF before you will struggle and the file will be vast and unemailable.)

Then it can be emailed to anyone who wants it to print it out.

Yes there are copyright issues- its a grey area, but if no-one is profiting from the copying/pdfing and we know that the authors would want to spread the word then just do it!


Or send it to me and I'll scan it for you as well.

Best wishes
Arthur Battram












Posted by: Arthur Battram , freelance brain, PleXity/institute of PlayFullNess, -1 June 2020, 1-:29

I remember the booklet, it might even exist somewhere in our archives. Thamesdown was cited as a good model in this regard, and certainly Play had a better profile than in most local authorities of that era. One wonders how well Play has fared since in that area? According to my sources, we ought to discuss the truth behind sustainability, that Play is often one of the first to lose resources when councils are seeking cuts.
Posted by: Jan Cosgrove, National Secretary, Fair Play for Children, -1 June 2020, 1-:27

I can photocopy a couple and post, let me have addresses, not Ideal s the photos are high resolution but small. I will leave another copy with the Childrens Play Information Service (CPIS) Library for the future, shame no-one knows what they're like now, I will have to get down and visit for myself!
Posted by: Alan Sutton, policy officer, London Play, -1 June 2020, 1-:24

Hi Alan,

I too would be very interested in seeing a copy of the booklet

Kind Regards
Toby
Posted by: Toby Knight, Playground Designer, Playground Services, -1 June 2020, 1-:21

Hi Alan

your comments and views are acknowledged and appreciated. Is there any way that I or others could get a copy of this publication?

I look forward to your reply.

Best regards

Paul
Posted by: Paul Casey, Director, APFA Ltd, -1 June 2020, 1-:18