The sun is back out, and as we start planning the summer ahead, we’re also reflecting on our activities last year when the sun was also shining! Last June , we were thrilled to bring our ROAM Free Sessions to Spark Green Park in Sparkbrook, Birmingham. Partnering with the Friends of Spark Green Park, we set out to create a session where local children could play freely, explore nature, and connect with their local green space in new and exciting ways.
Why Spark Green Park?
Spark Green Park is a small urban green space, situated between a busy road and local shops. While many families pass through it daily, it was rarely seen as a place to stop, play, and enjoy.
High levels of litter and fly tipping had left the park feeling neglected, but the recently formed Friends of Spark Green Park were working hard to reclaim it as a space for the community. When they approached us about bringing ROAM Free Sessions to the park, we knew this was an opportunity to help children see the park differently – not just as a shortcut, but as a place to explore, imagine, and play.
Six Weeks of Play
Over six weeks, 26 children took part in our after-school sessions. Unlike some of our other locations, Spark Green Park had fewer natural features, meaning we had to think creatively about how to inspire the children’s play. We incorporated a mix of structured and free play activities to help the children grow in confidence and independence.
Some of the highlights included:
- Nature and Physical Challenges – From treasure hunts and park bingo, these activities helped children discover different corners of the park.
- Creative Play – Equipment like parachutes, a slackline and some water play encouraged collaborative and imaginative play, showing the children new ways to interact with their surroundings.
And, of course, there was plenty of time for children to simply play in their own ways.
The Impact: Growing Confidence and Community
As the sessions progressed, we saw a real shift in how the children engaged with the park. At the start, many were unsure about exploring beyond the playground. By the final session, they were venturing further, creating their own games, and showing a newfound confidence in outdoor play.
The sessions didn’t just impact the children – they also drew interest from the wider community with the highly visible site being an advantage for capturing people’s attention. A grandparent who lived nearby signed up her granddaughter after watching from her window. A local family, who were asylum seekers staying in temporary accommodation, discovered the sessions and found a sense of welcome and belonging. Even local city council officers and elected members came to see what was happening, with one offering to volunteer.
Parents, too, saw the value of what we were doing. One parent shared:
“It’s good for things like this to happen in areas like Sparkbrook/Sparkhill that aren’t known for green spaces or encouraging people to be in nature, where traffic is bad and many people have small outside spaces. The children deserve these opportunities just as much as others. It’s also good to help parents grow in confidence. Children playing in parks helps deter antisocial behaviour too!”
The Chair of the Friends of Spark Green Park summed up the impact beautifully:
“We have really enjoyed the sessions and better understand what was missing – imaginative play and giving children the freedom and authority to choose how to spend their free unscheduled play time.”
What’s Next?
This pilot has shown us that small urban green spaces can still be places of big adventures. We hope to build on this experience, continuing our collaboration with the Friends of Spark Green Park and finding new ways to bring play into underused spaces.
A huge thank you to the John Feeney Charitable Trust for making this project possible, to the Friends of Spark Green Park for welcoming us so warmly, and most of all, to the children and families who made these sessions so special.
Here’s to more play, more exploration, and more laughter in the heart of our communities!
