HALF term is a chance for children to have fun and try something new. It’s also an opportunity for families to spend time together having fun.

Caldicot Castle hosted the family play session that included activities for families and children. The event was designed to encourage play in adults and children in an outdoor setting.

Groundwork Wales are the Blackwood based organisation who were behind the session. The event, that was free for participants, was organised in partnership with Caldicot Castle, Monmouthshire County Council, Monmouthshire Housing Association and Monmouthshire Flying Start.

188 people attended the event much to the delight of Community Play worker Jemima Thimbleby who was present on the day: “It’s always hard to know how many people will come to an event so we were delighted that so many came and seemed to enjoy the session.

“Our staff were busy throughout the event but it was worth it. We had wonderful feedback from the community.

“The atmosphere at the event was very chilled and all the people who attended were keen to get stuck in. It was lovely seeing parents using the resources to think of ways of playing with their children.”

The ethos behind the event revolved around free play, which meant that there was a relaxed approach to playtime and activities were unscheduled and led by those taking part.

Studies have found that this kind of play can increase health and wellbeing, improve social skills from learning and give people the opportunity to meet new people. It also encourages independence by allowing those taking part to venture on their own or overcoming challenges, gaining confidence from trying new things and finding a love the outdoors.

Groundwork Wales Programme Manager Rhiannon Perkins said: “The benefits of play range from social and physical development through to emotional and cognitive. There is a lot of research that highlights the benefits of outdoor play but it’s brilliant when you see it in action. We’ve seen the changes that play can bring to children, families and communities.”

According Ms Thimbleby the location added an extra element to the day. “Playing in the shade of a castle makes for a lovely atmosphere. However, it was the people of Caldicot who really made this event. They came out in force, ready to get stuck in. Some of the parents left more muddy then their children.

“The event was based on free play so children were allowed to go in and have fun and parents got involved too.

“We had fire pit building, marshmallow toasting, hammock making and football. As part of my role in advocating free play so it was great to see people get on board and get into the activities.”

The not-for-profit organisation encourages outdoor play in natural surroundings to enhance the health and wellbeing of children and families.

Their sustainable play programme is centred on using play to bring children closer to nature. The organisation aims to increase and enhance the accessibility and quality of children’s outdoor play experiences in Wales.

Groundwork Wales want to engage over 21,000 children and young people from birth to 18 years of age over a three year period, leaving a legacy of outdoor play opportunities in communities.

Ms Thimbleby said: “We believe that this type of play supports children and families, it allows children to make choices about how, when and what they play with to make their own outcomes and to enjoy being young people.

“The life skills children learn from playing can range from conflict management to assessing risk. It can lead to children being more resilient to stress and improves their mental well-being.

“It was clear from the smiling, concentrated faces, the laughing and the chatter that families who were at the event were getting a lot from the event as a whole.”

Ms Thimbleby explains that the sessions are child directed, so at the Caldicot event the children and adults used the equipment and the environment to create their own playful stories.

Groundwork Wales brought a range of equipment to the session to facilitate family play. These included materials to build dens and hammocks amongst the trees, bubbles and gloop for people to explore and get messy, and crash mat for people to practice leaps and jumps.

“We brought lots of sports items, which got spread out all over the field. Families played catch, racing, practicing their football passes and tennis skills.

“The children got really creative using a whole range of craft materials for example, they made Cheerio bird feeders, crowns and lots more things.

“Our fire pit was a big hit. There was a steady queue of families waiting to toast a marshmallow. Some children were covered in the sticky mess from toasting their marshmallow.”

Rachel Amedro-Edwards from Caldicot took her two children, six-year-old Amy and two-year-old Lucy, to the event. Her children particularly enjoyed toasting marshmallows and playing in the hammock.

She said: “I saw the day advertised on Facebook and went with my children and some friends. It was fab, it was great to see so many children there. It was a nice breath of community spirit. The weather was a bit overcast but it didn’t spoil kids’ fun.

“It was great to get kids out in the fresh air. It was really nice to see all the kids just running around and having fun. It was really well organised and I hope to see something like that again.”

Debbie Phillips from Caldicot has two sons, four-year-old Joshua and six-year-old Matthew. They also found out about the event on Facebook and she said that they learnt new skills during the session.

Mrs Phillips said: “We like to do outdoorsy things and being boys my sons need to be outside.

“We turned up to the event early and there were activities being set up. One of the biggest things the kids enjoyed was running around and playing together with lots of children. You don’t tend not to get that many children together when you just pop to the park.

“It was lovely to be at the castle with such a wide area to play. But I would like to see the castle open for people to explore or the activities could have been held within the castle.

“When things were set up you just joined in activities where you wanted to. There was den building and big parachute for the kids to run under.

“The boys enjoyed toasting the marshmallows. They learnt about fire safety and they learnt how to make glue from flour and water. They made frames out of wood and drilled holed into wood to make medallions onto which they could draw.

“It was nice to do something different and it was nice so many people in one place from the community. Lots of the parents I recognised from school and nursery, but you wouldn’t always see them outside school, so it was nice to talk to people you hadn’t met before.

“I think it would be good for the community to have more play sessions with lots of children because it brings people together.

“We look forward to doing more of these activities in the future.”

Ms Thimbleby added: “We really appreciate the castle letting us use the space, it was a great location to use. The event was linked in with Monmouthshire housing and the flying start team. They brought us to the area initially and helped advertised the day.”

Emily Townsend, engagement officer at the Monmouthshire Housing Association was also at the event. She said: “It was fantastic to see so many children and families playing outdoors together.

“We have such a great amount of outdoor space in Monmouthshire, we should really use it to inspire play and keep active. It’s so simple to do and hopefully more sessions like this will encourage families to get out and about when they can.”

Groundwork Wales will be launching a free weekly play session in Caldicot for families. All ages are welcome from grandparents to babies to enjoy the play sessions. The first session takes place on February 28 at the park on Longfellow Road, next to Caldicot RFC.

For more information visit Groundwork Wales or contact 01495 222605.