Tim Gill  is an independent scholar, advocate and consultant on childhood. His website and blog focuses on the changing nature of children’s play and free time, and their evolving relationships with the people and places around them. Tim argues for a balanced, thoughtful approach to risk in childhood: a position set out in his 2007 book No Fear: Growing up in a risk averse society  Tim is a longstanding advocate for child-friendly urban planning and design and supporter of the Playing Out movement.

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Subject Area: Risk, urban planning

Melbourne’s Nature Play was named best playground of 2016 by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects. Built on the site of the former Nurses’ station around the corner from the Royal Childrens’ hospital, the playground’s design reflects the seven seasons described by the Wurundjeri people, traditional owners of the area. Each zone includes a design element or native indicator of these seasons like the silver wattle (Acacia dealbata) which blooms when transitioning from the wombat season (winter) to the orchid season (spring). The playground features sand and water play, rocky inclines, swings and slides nestled amongst thousands of new plantings overlooked by an enormous hill giving expansive views of the grounds and city beyond.

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Length: 6m : 08s

Outdoor Nature Art teacher Marghanita Hughes tells listeners about her childhood adventures in the Scottish highlands, where creativity was nurtured and inspired by the environment. Marghanita talks about the importance of role modelling positive, attentive relationships to each other and specialises in reconnecting children and adults with nature through meaningful art.

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Length: 29m : 39s