Steve Backshall opens new children’s play area in Woodberry Wetlands

Championing nature: Steve Backshall with Holmleigh Primary School pupils at at Woodberry Wetlands. Photograph: AELTC/ Andrew Baker

TV star Steve Backshall has opened a new play area at the Woodberry Wetlands nature reserve.

The Deadly 60 presenter and naturalist hosted an outdoor learning session with children from Holmleigh Primary School as part of the opening.

The area was built using natural materials from the reserve itself, including a fallen horse chestnut tree and includes features for the children to climb, balance, build and explore.

The play area has been developed on a previously vacant plot of land by the “Championing Nature” project which is supported by The All-England Lawn Tennis Club and Emirates.

Backshall, who is an ambassador for the project, said: “It was a joy to officially open the Woodberry Wetlands play area today and hopefully inspire future explorers to appreciate their surroundings and build the foundations of a life-long relationship with the natural world”.

Hands on: Steve Backshall with Holmleigh Primary School pupils at at Woodberry Wetlands. Photograph: AELTC/ Andrew Baker

The new area is designed to help young Londoners connect with wildlife and green spaces and encourage imaginative, nature-based play.

Abi March, head of learning and engagement at London Wildlife Trust told the Citizen, “Steve was really positive about the site and opportunities.”

The school children were especially excited when they “found newts and centipedes”, she added.

She went on to tell the Citizen she hopes the new area will provide a “welcoming space for families with young children, especially those who might be apprehensive and don’t know what to expect from a natural play area.”

Woodberry Wetlands is one of the 36 free-to-access nature reserves across London that is managed by the London Wildlife Trust.

Pointing out: Steve Backshall with Holmleigh Primary School pupils at Woodberry Wetlands. Photograph: AELTC/ Andrew Baker

The trust’s current Championing Nature initiative with The All-England Lawn Tennis Club and Emirates has so far reached almost 20,000 people across 750 activity sessions.

Ulrika Högberg, head of community strategy at the All-England Lawn Tennis Club said: “It has been incredible to witness first-hand today the positive impact that the Championing Nature programme is having already, just under a year since it launched”.

The play area is part of a wider scheme to address children’s lack of access to green spaces in the capital.

Many children and adolescents in London do not have adequate access to open and green space at their school.

Hackney is among the London boroughs where more than 70 per cent of schools fall below minimum green space thresholds, according to a 2021 study by Imperial College London.

Find out more about Woodberry Wetlands.