“Incorrect safety inspections are limiting the adventure in adventure playgrounds”
This is the experience of two inspectors who have over 90 years’ combined experience in children’s play.
They are also concerned that years of underfunding have led to a high turnover of staff. The field is losing playworkers who have enough experience to defend adventurous activities from misinformed inspections.
Having fires and building dens are encouraged on adventure playgrounds whereas they are not permitted on unsupervised conventional playgrounds.
The two inspectors, Chris Guy and Rob Wheway, are nearing retirement and are keen to ensure that playgrounds are “Keeping the Adventure”. They, together with experienced playworkers, have formed a new association “APIA” to ensure adventure is still encouraged on adventure playgrounds.
APIA 