Meriden Adventure Playground is a unqiue facility based in Chelmsley Wood in North Solihull and serving children from the city, particularly partts of East Birmingham. This summer, the playground will be open most weekdays from 10.30–2.00pm and 3.00-6.30pm for children and young people aged 7-17 years. Sessions consist of adventure play with lunch provided by on-site cook using food provided by Fare Shares.
Activities
The site caters for all types of play, construction and creative activities. It has purpose-built wooden structures including platforms and bridges for climbing and running. There is a large sandpit, fire-pit, zip-wire, tango swing and legging swing, a tunnel and space to run, be noisy, dance, build etc. Children can use tools to create their own dens, help cook over the open fire and use a huge array of recycled resources and loose parts to make things, dress up and play in any way they choose – ways often not condoned or allowed elsewhere.
MAPA offers a space that gives opportunities for not just playing but creation of the space itself. Here children can climb, swing, jump, run, chase, dig, hide, dress up, make music, use tools, do a whole variety of art/craft/sensory activities, use circus equipment including slack lines, trapeze, stilts and unicycles, as well as help with preparing and cooking food if desired.
The playground has platforms, towers, swings, ladders and tunnels and children are naturally drawn to run, climb, swing and jump for hours.
There are always various art/craft activities available too and sensory activities involving paint, slime, water beads etc. The playground association makes available circus kit (diablos, spinning plates, poi, flower sticks, unicycles, slack lines, trapeze etc.) and equipment for sports including football, cricket and rounders, etc. Children can undertake their own small-scale construction projects using tools and materials available at the playground.
Food
The group provides the option of a hot vegan meal or a packed vegan lunch and there is fruit and squash available to participants all the time. MAPA employs a qualified cook and assistant and buys in fresh ingredients alongside food donated including by Fare Shares. Only vegan and plant-based ingredients are used which provides a high level of cross cultural acceptability. Staff at MAPA have the relevant training in Food Hygiene and Allergy Awareness.
Children and young people can be involved in cooking on-site, eg making pizzas and can take part in food related activities each day. Staff talk with both parents and children about what is being cooked and how. Staff have talked through recipes with some and explained where to buy plant-based products. The group makes available food themed colouring sheets and wordsearches etc.
Meriden provides a good accessible service for a wide range of children, but the general summer holiday sessions would not be suitable for children with complex or severe special needs; or for other children who might not be able to enjoy play with the number of children that are on site on these days. MAPA does run quieter sessions with higher levels of staffing which are suitable for an even wider range of children with special needs. Parents are welcome to enquire and have a chat with staff before visiting. Find out more more Meriden Adventure Playground or use the Fit for All Booking Enquiry Form.