This year’s theme for Playday, the national day of play on 4 August, is ‘Summer of Play’ and the National Trust NI has is encouraging families to experience a range of simple outdoor pleasures designed to keep families entertained right through the school holidays.
It’s been a challenging year, but with restrictions easing and summer in full swing, the National Trust in Northern Ireland is encouraging people to boost their wellbeing by getting outdoors and enjoying simple pleasures.
Playing is essential for children’s mental health and well-being and recent research by the conservation charity showed that connecting with nature supports different types of wellbeing, from being happy and feeling good, to functioning well day to day [1].
Research also found that children were more likely to report feeling happy if they had a higher level of nature connectedness, engaged in meaningful activities linked to nature (such as writing songs or poetry about nature) and spent time relaxing in nature [2].
The good news is that nature connection can be simple, everyday and under our noses like walking barefoot, listening to birdsong and smelling flowers.
Annie Reilly, Experience Development Manager at the National Trust said: “Going barefoot is one of those simple pleasures that forces you to stop to be more aware of your surroundings and is a really great way of connecting with nature.
“We know other simple sensory pleasures such as smelling flowers, listening to birdsong and noticing butterflies and bees can also help with nature connection and encourage feelings of wellbeing.
“With people’s desire to reconnect with family and friends, and to enjoy time outdoors and the simple and sensory pleasures in life, we will be concentrating on ensuring families can do just that at many of our places this summer by providing safe spaces to enjoy and to have fun.”
This summer, National Trust places in Northern Ireland will be ready to ‘Get set, go!’ with a range of active, sensory and playful activities that encourage fun, laughter and taking time out in nature.
You’ll be able to pick up a ‘Get set, go’ activity card – or if you prefer, download them to take with you – to inspire your summer adventure. These activity cards have lots of ways to enjoy summer activities, such as ‘Find your way’ to explore new paths and discover different natural textures, or ‘Feel the beat’ to tune in to the sounds and rhythms of nature. Each activity is designed to have fun with what’s around you and explore the simple things this summer.
National Trust ‘Get set, go!’ activities near you
The Argory, County Armagh
Challenge friends and family at Blackwater Bootcamp. How high can you jump? How much can you lift? Enjoy schoolyard skipping and tennis on the lawn; compose a nature tune in the giant arbour sound boot; try your hand at some Argory Art or help the next generation of cyclists learn to ride on the new free-to-hire balance bikes.
Pre-booking not required. Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/the-argory
Castle Coole, Florence Court and Crom, County Fermanagh
Grab a Get Set, Go card at Castle Coole, Crom or Florence Court and create your own adventure as you explore the activities at each place. You can make a splash at Crom, add some bounce at Castle Coole, or follow the path at Florence Court, all whilst noticing nature at each of these special places. Don’t forget to collect your wooden medal for taking part.
Pre-booking not required visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/crom www.nationaltrust.org.uk/castle-coole www.nationaltrust.org.uk/florence-court
Rowallane Garden, County Antrim
Venture into Explore & Play, a natural playground filled with fun, physical challenges. See if you can survive the swamp, find the tallest trees and get active in nature. Don’t forget to pick up a Get Set, Go card to inspire your summer adventure. ‘Find your way’ to explore new paths and discover different natural textures, or ‘feel the beat’ to tune in to the sounds and rhythms of nature.
Pre-booking recommended, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/rowallane-garden
Mount Stewart, County Down
Pick up your Get Set, Go pack from the courtyard outside Visitor Reception and choose your own adventure. Take a dive into forest bathing, hunt for hidden digital treasures with geocaching or try your hand at archery. Make a bee line for the Magic Ink Pot, a natural play area themed around magical journeys and mythical creatures; or see what strange and exotic animals you can find in the ark in the Italian Garden.
Pre-booking recommended visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mount-stewart
Castle Ward, County Down
Choose to go barefoot in the wildflower meadow, hit the target while buzzing along with the bees, Get Set, Go in a potato sack race, catch your breath during a yoga pose, or find your way through the estate with a natural sensory trail.
Pre-booking not required, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/castle-ward