Nature-based play is important for children’s development and wellbeing. However, access to natural spaces is diminishing and children increasingly lack a connection to nature, especially in cities. Within our education system, specialists in learning and development struggle to consistently and equitably provide nature-based play resources and spaces for children.
PGP is a community and place-based approach to help children reconnect with nature. This approach learns from the evidence of the benefits of active, nature-based creative play for children, and existing nature-based learning initiatives (e.g. the National Education Nature Park), but is unique in its focus on four key principles:
- For all children: Accessible to every single child.
- Demonstrate co-creation in place: Led by local people with the strengths and needs of the community at the heart.
- Deliver triple benefits: Grow children’s ecological citizenship, community connection and nature regeneration.
- Sustainable: Embedded within the local offer and evolving to deliver long-term impact.
PGP play and learning spaces and experiences are co-created by a movement of local citizens and coalitions (the Stewards) that transform unused or underutilized green spaces within walking distance of community centres, schools and early childhood settings into outdoor playrooms and classrooms.
The National Lottery Community Fund funded the first two pilots in 2025-26 with founding Stewards in Dundee (The Maxwell Community Centre) and Hull (University of Hull).
PGP is now looking to test a movement building approach to scale PGP across the UK through a PGP network supported by the RSA Fellowship. Stewards will have access to PGP and RSA brand, a playbook of resources, the opportunity to platform their initiative through RSA channels, their own private space on Circle to connect, hosted learning circles with other stewards, and a dedicated community manager to support them in shaping their intervention. Through this network approach we are hoping to utilise the expertise and influence of the stewards to engage 60,000 children in nature-based play over the next 3 years.
PGP spaces and experiences are:
- For all children: Accessible to every single child.
- Demonstrate co-creation in place: Led by local people with the strengths and needs of the community at the heart.
- Deliver triple benefits: Grow children’s ecological citizenship, community connection and nature regeneration.
- Sustainable: Embedded within the local offer and evolving to deliver long-term impact.
PGP adds value by:
- Bridging the gap: From inequitable access to available to all
- Mainstreaming innovation: From single place, once-off & timebound initiatives done to rather than by communities, to co-created initiatives that convene, connect & influence systems
- Holistic outcomes: From a narrow focus to triple benefits (grow ecological citizenship, community connection & nature regeneration)
We are inviting new PGP Stewards to join the network. PGP Stewards are community-based organizations, often led by RSA Fellows. Visit our website to learn about success criteria to become a Steward.
If you’re interested in finding out more, reach out to our Community Manager (see website). We’ll then set up a discussion to learn about you and provide more information on the initiative.
