Children help design new playground in St Martin

Children's designs for the playground were considered by the connétable of St Martin

The opening of a new playground in Jersey has revealed the first supported seat swing on the island.

It is part of a new accessible children’s playground in St Martin's village green.

Children's designs for the playground were considered by the connétable of St Martin as part of its construction, project bosses said.

Nature had also been incorporated into the design to “positively” impact the wellbeing of children, they added.

Year 3 students from St Martin’s School, local parents and members of the Jersey Youth Parliament were among those who attended its opening.

Project bosses said the design process incorporated inclusivity and play principles, and the contributions from the Year 3 students were “instrumental” in the design process.

Connétable Karen Shenton-Stone said: “I am absolutely delighted that this project has come to fruition, and that the children and parents who helped design the playground will now be able to enjoy it."

The design process incorporated inclusivity in the design process

Mother of four and playground consultant Emily Jennings said she wanted to have a playground that incorporated “natural space”, so she advocated for more woods and natural equipment.

After trees fell from Storm Ciarán, Ms Jennings also suggested “incorporating nature into play” and keeping a fallen tree so children could play on it.

The parish has also added a natural play space with log slides and tree trunks for young people to climb and enjoy.

A Children’s Rights Impact Assessment said outdoor activities were related to “reduced stress, enhanced creativity, problem solving capacity and improved social relations".

The playground has been funded by two major anonymous donors.