So you must have noticed that we had a massive delivery of bark last year which was kindly funded by help a London Child. Thanks to Richard at HALC for sending us the funding information, it's great that Hornimans receives such wonderful support from funding bodies. It took many hands using a full day and a half to move the bark from 7am until the evening of the next day. The great majority of it was completed in one day by four members of staff and David, our work experience Master of sack moving. parents and children gave a helping hand when school was out and for this, the staff were more than thankful. Working together as Hornimans family to make sure the playground is safe to play in.
Well, it turns out that having been successful in receiving some Path finder money for new structures, some of the old ones had to go. After a long process of discussion with the children and young peeps, some of the old structures were chosen to be demolished, many because they were pretty much passed their sell by date. During this first phase, the heavy machinery which had to remove the old structures and then replace them with new destroyed the bark and so guess what?
So phase two of the build, from Third sector Funding, allowed us to plan the second phase of the playground build which the children had already discussed in full. The swings being put in are a by a German design company who base their designs on how children in the local village play and build. The structures are beautifully made and will last a lifetime of play. It just so happens that from the 6th July, more equipment is being put into place so the bark that we have left will no doubt be crunched up some more… So guess what? Bark Attack Mark Two – JULY 20th!
It’s all hands on deck. It’s the last date we could have the bark delivered before the Summer 6 week programme begins the day after. We have 20 pallets arriving, a ton of bark to shift and your help is always welcome.
Saying that; all staff will be onsite from 7am to begin moving it throughout the day. It’s a huge job, especially before the summer programme begins, but we like walking on the edge and we know that the Hornimans family will all be on hand to give a helping hand or fifty! See you on the 20th July.
Ok, so, the way it goes is this - we need bark to be able to run a safe playground so that if our children fall down, they fall on a safe, tested safety surface.
Bark costs money, huge amounts of money and for some time we weren't able to top up our bark - until now.
We needed at least a tonne (to be exact, we had to buy nearly 2000 80 litre bags.
That turned out to be 112 pallet loads of bark we had to shift from 8am to 7pm.
All the staff & volunteers got through 111 pallets by the time the children came to play at 3.30pm.
The builders from the development across the road watched from dawn to dusk as each pallet was unloaded and brought into the playground on a fork lift.
Even the fork lift gave up half way through and caused a halt in the delivery, the motor burnt out. As the builders watched us, we moved the bags to corners of the playground and began to empty this mass of bark throughout our playground as a team.
No one moaned about their backs, no one complained that they couldn't make it out of illness, we just got on with it as a team.
Once the children came in, they were happy to help, from aged 5 to 16 years, they lugged the last bags from the very last pallet. And as a playground in one day, we cleared the lot.
How proud were we?
Very! And the builder opposite told Gary just how much they were amazed at how quickly we all worked to get it laid. Super human? Yeah we are the dark night's! *rolls eyes*
We are an open access Adventure Playground and play centre providing a service available to school aged children in RBK&C aged 5-16 years. Please note that your child MUST be aged 5 years from 1st September following their 5th birthday.
Monday's we open at 12 noon - 5.45pm
We have a staff meeting every Monday during the holidays
Tuesday - Fridays 11am ~ 5.45pm
Closed Saturdays during the holidays
Please remember that Late Night's only take place throughout the Summer holidays subject to funding:
Late [extended] nights - Summer holidays only:
Tuesday & Thursdays for the over 8 year olds:
5.45pm ~ 8.45pm
Tuck shop:Term Time - from 4.30pm with 'Tuck Shop T'
{That's Tony giving himself a name to make himself sound more interesting}
Holiday Tuck:12 - 1pm Providing a range of healthy eating options with a contribution from our children. Don't miss out on having your say! Speak to Tony!
The above times cover a 6 day a week. Which does not include residentials away which take place in during the Summer period for registered regular members.
Hornimans is as an open access adventure playground and play centre and we choose to register on the Voluntary part of the Ofsted Childcare Register. You can see our last report here.
The voluntary part of the Childcare Register was introduced in April 2007.
Hornimans is supervised by a team of qualified happy staff team who enjoy their work and we provide a secure and stimulating environment for all children, including those with special needs and disabilities.
Please remember that sometimes, an open access environment may not be right for your child as Hornimans is run as an open access playground and this means that children are not restricted and can come and go as they wish.
Healthy snacks and refreshments are provided by Tuck Shop T and can be bought at a low cost; your children are welcome to bring their own food and drink.
On your first visit parents/carers are required to complete a registration form for the school aged age group stated and must complete the details in full.
