Today’s summer event in Epping is the St John’s Church open day. View of Epping from the top of the tower is fascinating as is the inside view of the clock and bells. Bought my raffle tickets and played Higher & Lower.

2.3 million children in Britain don’t have a playground near to where they live. 1 in 3 children. This is important research from Fields in Trust 💚 Full details 👇

ICYMI yesterday’s great piece by Yvonne Roberts theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

I've just pledged to put play on the agenda! ✍ @Starlight_UK is calling on the next government to increase the play workforce in the NHS as part of their manifesto for children’s play in healthcare. Will you support them and sign the pledge? starlight.org.uk/play-manifesto 💚⭐

theguardian.com/education/arti…

The Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) CIC programme is a rare success story in a dismal post-2010 play landscape here in the UK. It has worked with (I think) >1,000 schools and transformed playtimes for 100,000s of kids. (Pic: Hernhill PS playground. Yes, really.)

Three Peaks Challenge - Remembering John & Oliver gofund.me/38a80727

eppingforestdc.bookinglive.com/assets/Uploads…

Children are the connective tissue of society: what adults lose when children aren't playing outside. Another excellent article in The Atlantic featuring Playing Out theatlantic.com/family/archive…

"The sense that something has changed can act as a catalyst... to ask afresh to children & their care-givers: what do you want? What do you need? What would bring you back to the city?" Thanks Town & Country Planning Association for building on the unfinished Parliamentary inquiry. tcpa.org.uk/creating-place…

It’s National Playday. Our playgrounds will be celebrating with trips, events and a day of fun, supporting children’s right to play. #children #adventureplayground #hackney

open.substack.com/pub/petergray/…

These riots started in Parliament. Rioters chant “stop the boats” and “we want our country back” - using language from politicians across the political spectrum. It’s not enough to call out violence, politicians need to stop normalising hate. In policy and practice.

My photo is blowing up all over the place. No credit, but I'll take it in my stride.

‘Children need the arts, as much as they need to run about in the fresh air, if you deprive children of shelter & kindness, food, drink & exercise they die visibly, if you deprive them of art, music, story & theatre, they perish on the inside, and it doesn't show’ Philip Pullman

Our fortnightly SEN session returns this Saturday 27th! Run on a quieter part of the 3G @ 9.15am by one of our parent coaches who is passionate about offering football to SEN children, we are trialling these FREE sessions until Xmas. For more info, register via link in comment ⤵️

VIDEO REPORT: Children at Ivy Chimneys Primary School in Epping turned activists by taking part in a Day of Action to highlight road safety concerns including the issue of speeding outside their school. More at youtu.be/a8hIZ4IX2F0 Ivy Chimneys Primary

‘It All Starts with Play’ – New National Campaign and APPG on Play in England -@SheffieldUni sheffield.ac.uk/geography-plan… Researchers from the University's School of Architecture and Landscape and School of Geography and Planning help launch Play England's new 10-year strategy at