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WAPDoG - Documenting the Waterlees Spinney

The Wisbech Adventure Playground Documentary Group (WAPDoG) have been meeting every week to collect and share information about the new adventure playground being built at the Waterlees Spinney. The WAPDoG project is being managed by Atelier East, is funded by Cambridgeshire County Council and supported by Fenland District Council. All of the information collated by these Young Artists will be published in a beautiful book which will contain stories, poems, photos, paintings, drawings and more.

Now, over to the WAPDoG Young Artists…

Hi I’m Brandon. I am Lead Young Artist of the WAPDoG project. We have been meeting every week and we express our feelings for then new playground by drawing, painting, writing and even modelling! If you are interested in joining please send an email to me, Brandon via this website and include your name, age and telephone number. I will get back to you as soon as possible. thank you ; )

A poem about the Spinney, by Bethanie Eaglen.

The Spinney was an awful sight,
At first it was a mess.
Grass, mud and rubbish stuff,
And not to mention the rest.

But along came Sutcliffe Play,
and Cambridgeshire County Council,
who thought of an adventure playground,
and said, ‘one million pounds would be helpful!’

The people got some builders,
and site planners too,
Who all came together,
and built this just for you!

Play Day report by Brandon Mattless

Children and their families had a fantastic and enjoyable time at the Oasis Centre in Wisbech on August 4th, National Play Day. Children had the chance to do many activities, have fun and work together with other children of many ages! These activities included; bug box making, den building, toys and games, barbecue, blow up slide, model houses and generally having fun. The new playground that is being built at the Waterlees area, the Spinney, was temporarily open for children and adults to experience play!

Over 200 people came along to this event and all had a lovely time.  I interviewed some children and their parents and they replied to my questions by saying, “Fantastic. There is so much for my children to do”, “Enjoyed the whole day!” and  “I didn’t realise play could be something so big”. I was very pleased with the replies and so amazed by how many people were interested in play. I also asked many youngsters and their family relatives what the word play means to them. “Play is……… fun”, “where you can relax”, and “enjoy every moment”.

This event was a brilliant time for families to get together and play! Many children don’t have many opportunities to play so I think the play day event at the Oasis Centre was a grand success and I’m waiting patiently for next year!

On Thursday 26th August we held a tea and cake morning at the Oasis Centre for residents from the Waterlees area to share with us some history and information about the Spinney. We wanted to get pictures, info and lots more history about it so that it can be published in our WAPDoG book. We managed to get to talk to some older people and they were happy to share their information.

Thanks everyone who turned up : )

The arrival of the barges, report and photos by Brandon Mattless

Residents from the Waterlees ward gathered at the Spinney to see barges being placed in the new £880,000 adventure playground on Thursday 23rd September. Children and their parents watched with amazed faces as these two massive boats were lifted by crane into the play area.  Children screamed as they waited patiently to go in and explore the the new additions! I was very pleased with what they looked like and I think so was everyone else.

These barges will be a class room, for arts and crafts, chilling out on bean bags, a kitchen for cooking activities and any other exciting and fun activities. The other, toilets, showers and an office for the head play-worker Reuben Francis.

I would like to send special thanks for the four men who have built these two barges from scratch and what a fabulous job they have done and also thanks for all the children and parents who came along with all their support. Thank you all very much.

Posted on Sunday, September 26th, 2010. RSS 2.0

Comments

One Response to “WAPDoG - Documenting the Waterlees Spinney”

1. Dan Keen Says:
   

   WOW!!! Good to see it taking shape, I was involved in the early stages from a youth work point of view. Looks awesome

   September 30th, 2010 at 3:16 pm

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