About The Children’s Wood
The Children’s Wood and Meadow make up the last wild space in the west end of Glasgow. This space is vitally important for our local community. It is a place where people get together, walk dogs, picnic, garden and play.
It’s a space where everyone can come together without the pressure to buy stuff. The Children’s Wood organise regular events and manage the land alongside the wider community. Our aim is to connect people to nature, raise aspirations and involve people in the management of the land.
People are increasingly disconnected from nature and this is having serious mental and physical health implications. Our Dear Wild Place can redress the imbalance right in the heart of our community. Some children who’ve been to the land through local schools have said this is the first time they’ve been outside to play in months, or ever, and they loved it.
“This is such a great inner-city open space, a real ‘secret garden’ which serves as an open-air community centre and a place where kids can climb trees and discover nature’’
Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo
The Children’s Wood and Meadow can be accessed at any time of day or night by families/adults/carers/schools and all of the community. It is our land, community land, let’s make use of it – but please always leave the land as you find it, or better.
We’ve had birthday parties, celebrations and picnics down here, there’s no need to book, just come down whenever you want. If you are coming with a school group please get in touch beforehand. Please take away any litter. Leftover food is particularly important to remove as it attracts rats and gruffalos.
Why is the land important?
Despite living in a society where for some life has never been so good materially, some things are getting worse and we’re noticing an increasing number of problems associated with modern living such as depression, anxiety, obesity, food poverty, the achievement gap and so on.
Children as young as eight are contacting services because they feel so stressed they can’t cope. We believe the Children’s Wood and Meadow can play a role in tackling some of these 21st-century problems and minimise the impact of the more challenging aspects of modern living. Being outside, even if it’s just to play and have fun, can reduce anxiety and increase self-esteem and attention span in children.
The same is true for adults and for problems such as depression; spending time in nature can be as effective as antidepressants in reducing symptoms. It’s a simple, free activity with no side effects.
The land and the work The Children’s Wood does around the land aims to facilitate community and bring people together to manage the land. If you go over to our Research Centre you will see some of the research we like and studies that we have collaborated on with the University of Glasgow. Not only can the land help to alleviate negative feelings and thoughts but it can boost well-being and help people and our community to flourish.
Tips for using and looking after the land
🍃 No fires on the land.
🍃 Keep dogs out of the wooded area by Sanda St (Children’s Wood) and on a lead when the land is busy. Always clear up after your dog.
🍃 Please take away any litter and leftover food with you. There is a bottle bank on Kelbourne Street for any glass bottles.
🍃 Please make sure you take responsibility for your risk assessment. We do check the land but the land is heavily used throughout the day. Things to check for will be the same as for other parks and green spaces: glass, dog poo and needles.
🍃 Get in touch if you want to get involved. Activities to help with include planting, gardening, maintenance, education or outdoor learning.
