2015 Hackney Marsh-mania at London Adventure Play Awards!

 

Cardboard boxes, chaos and crazy kids captured on film bagged Hackney Marsh Adventure Playground the coveted title of 2015 London Adventure Playground of the Year today. In a year which has seen the tragic closure of one of the capital’s oldest adventure playgrounds in Brent, this lively event was a timely reminder of the unique opportunity these places allow children for freedom, creativity and fun.  

 

Around 120 children from adventure playgrounds, schools, and play streets across London descended on the Prince Charles Cinema in the heart of the West End today, to see the films they had made about the places they play up on the big screen. Organised by charity London Play, there were awards in five categories up for grabs plus an overall winner to be announced – the anticipation was palpable. 

 

The Hackney Marsh film featured fire, dancing, lots of improvised games with recycled materials, dancing, dressing up, water slides, dancing, obstacle courses, bouncing, swinging and – oh yes – some dancing. “This film captures the essence of barely controlled anarchy that is adventure play at its best,” the judges said. “Lots of improvisation, creativity, craziness and freedom with play workers praised by the children for their ‘immaturity’ – now that’s a compliment!” 

 

Children from the 2014 winning playground at White City, who chose the winners, handed over the top prize to a jubilant Hackney Marsh group. One of the young award recipients said that the best thing about the playground is: “Freedom and the chance to do what you want.” The victory was even sweeter given that the group has narrowly missed out on the top prize for the past few years’ running – winning in nearly every category but never the main award. 

 

Anisa, age 9 said of Hackney Marsh: “You get to be as creative as you want, you can make new friends and there is plenty to do and you can never be tired of doing it.” The winning prize will enhance the playground further with a new structure, designed and built by APEs Adventure Playground Engineers with the help of the children, including £500 worth of free materials.   

 

And the success for Hackney didn’t stop there – Winston Road was named joint London ‘Play Street of the Year’ along with Islington’s Fairbridge Road. They won £250 each to fund an on-street celebration.  

 

With three other award categories for schools and adventure playgrounds – there was plenty more excitement on offer. Along with the films came plenty of popcorn, noise, games and banana high jinks with compere-gorilla Charlie Kemp keeping the atmosphere just on the right side of chaos and ensuring that no one went away disappointed.   

 

Lambeth’s Lollard Street Adventure Playground was named ‘Coolest Place to Play’; Lumpy Hill Adventure Playground in Islington won the category for ‘Inventiveness’; and Islington Council’s adventure playgrounds jointly scooped the ‘best film’ award. Newcomer Christ Church Primary in Tower Hamlets took the ‘Best Adventure Play in a School’ award.  

 

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