'We want to get back to a simpler time'

Kirkstall Valley Farm is holding pumpkin carving workshops

A creative festival is aiming to encourage children and adults to make more time for fun.

It is being hosted by Leeds Community of Play and will pop up at various locations in the city until November 3.

More than 70 events are taking place, including performances, interactive experiences, games and workshops hosted by more than 100 people and organisations.

Emma Bearman, founder of Playful Anywhere, one of the organisations behind the event, said it was about encouraging children and adults to get together "through the power of play".

From left, Emma Bearman, founder of Playful Anywhere, and Keith and Adele Rae from Kirkstall Valley Farm

She added: “It reminds people, older generations who think kids are noisy or anti-social, that they were kids once as well – so part of our work is connecting the generations.”

One of the venues taking part in the festival is Kirkstall Valley Farm, which is offering pumpkin carving workshops, a Halloween trail and tractor rides.

The community farm, which is less than three miles out of Leeds city centre, hosts a forest school, tot sessions and healthy holiday play schemes.

Over the course of a summer, the team of staff and volunteers host an average of 700 to 800 children through play schemes.

Adele Rae, who is CEO of Kirkstall Valley Development Trust, said one of the farm’s goals was creating a place for adults and children to be able to play outdoors in a safe environment.

She said: “It’s about giving children the opportunities to just play.

“And getting to do all that stuff that we might have done as children, just disappear for the day and do whatever."

Keith, 77, a volunteer on the farm, said being involved in the project had allowed him to play more – especially on his tractor.

“I learned to drive tractors when I was a lad, a long time ago, and so when I retired I thought I could buy a tractor, I could play out with it – as you do.”

The farm has more than 200 pumpkins available to carve

The six-day pop-up festival also includes a playful information centre in Victoria Gardens, which Ms Bearman said will host activities such as a hot dog race, conker challenge and shaving foam competition.

Other events across the city include Lego play with digital consultancy firm Hippo Digital, a mini gig at Brudenell Social Club and story time with Hold Fast - a bookshop on a boat.

The organisation is also encouraging people to try “playstreets”, where residents shut down their streets for people to play in.

Ms Bearman said Leeds City Council has been “a vanguard local authority” for the scheme.

“You can close down your street for people to play in and when people do that it’s like the olden times,” she said.

“When we were younger we used to roam out for hours and come back at tea time.

“So we want to get back to a simpler time but we’re going to have to work to get back there.”

Kirkstall Valley Farm opened in 2021

Ms Bearman added play activities, such as those on the farm, forced people who struggle to play because of stress, to slow down and were good for wellbeing.

She said: “This place makes you relax. It does something magical.

“You sit down and you feel your shoulders go and you hear the bird song and the sound of the river.

“It is biologically changing how you are being in this space and that is what good playful environments do. You stop with all that other noise that’s going in your head.

“When you look at a child playing, in that moment they’re just enjoying themselves.”

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