Tales from the Playground – playwork stories from contemporary adventure playgrounds

Tales from the Playground – playwork stories from contemporary adventure playgrounds is a unique collection of stories from international adventure playgrounds (or ‘junk playgrounds’ as invented by Carl Theodore Sørensen). The book provides a rare glimpse into twelve modern adventure playgrounds, the staff and volunteers who nurture them and the children and families who treasure them. Each chapter reflects the individuality – and sometimes even eccentricity – of the adventure playgrounds themselves, weaving together history, theory, practice and personal testimony to bring each playground to life in the context of their individual social, historical, political and cultural landscapes.

Tales from the Playground includes chapters from playworkers working on adventure playgrounds in Australia, China, France, Germany, Japan, Sweden, UK and USA. It is illustrated throughout with colour photographs which show the similarities and differences between adventure playgrounds around the world.

This book dispels the commonly-held belief that ‘you can’t let them play like that anymore’ and that real adventure playgrounds, where children build, dig, create and generally take control of their own affairs, are a thing of the past. Tales from the Playground provides a rich resource for practitioners, parents and researchers who want to know more about the possibilities that the adventure playground concept offers for increasing children’s freedom. From small scale free play projects in Shanghai to an internationally renowned Texan school, and a former goat farm in France to pop-up projects at festivals across the UK, these ‘tales’ challenge the adult world to consider how the adult imagination can either hem children in – or set them free.

The cover is from an original painting by Donne James Buck, who became the first full time playleader at Bandley Hill Adventure Playground in Stevenage (UK) in 1967. The foreword is written by Donne’s brother, Graeme Buck. The book also includes an introduction by Angus Gorrie, who originally came up with the idea of uniting international adventure playgrounds in one illustrated volume.

Publication date: 1st October 2025. Pre-Publication Discount Code (save 10%): PREPUB10