Play Rangers

Forest Play Rangers Project

Play Rangers encourage adventurous freely chosen and inclusive play in the natural woodland settings and green spaces of the Forest of Dean. Enabling children and young people to play in an imaginative and creative way.

Play Gloucestershire provide a district mobile team of Play Rangers whose mission will be to encourage children, young people and their families to ‘Get Out and Play!’. There is a focus on 8-16 years olds. Under 8's are welcome if accompanied by an adult. The Play Ranger scheme is funded through the Big Lottery Fund’s Children’s Play Programme. Play Gloucestershire will be working in partnership with the Forest of Dean District Council, and the Forestry Commission to deliver these play activities.

The project began in April 2008 and ran across the Forest until March 2011. A smaller service is now operating while additional funding is sought to continue the project. Play Ranger activities are open access. This means there is no registration – children can leave the site at any time. Play Rangers will not stop them and may not know that they have left. Play Rangers aim to respond to the needs of children and young people by offering children stimulating, challenging environments for exploring and developing their abilities. In doing this, we aim to manage the level of risk so that children are not exposed to unacceptable risks. All our activities are outdoors and include den building, fires, arts and crafts, sports and a range of playful games. We encourage children to play freely and choose what they do. Children will get wet, hot, cold, smelly and dirty and need to wear appropriate clothing and footwear.

For more information about where the service is available visit www.playgloucestershire.org.uk