Guy Lawrence, managing director of Awesome Adventure Play, reveals the fun and freedom offered by Islington’s free adventure playgrounds

Islington has 12 adventure playgrounds, and they’re a bit of a hidden secret. When I was growing up, I would go to the woods with a group of friends, and we would create our own games and climb trees. We had more freedom – but all those things can be done in an adventure playground.

I would describe them as a place kids can get creative, invent their own fun, and learn about risk in a safe environment. They can go on high platforms or over bridges, jump onto crash mats, or whizz on zipwires. There are always qualified play workers who can help them manage the risks. So, there’s a lot of learning, and a lot of independence. And it’s parent-free, so children get to be themselves.

Of course, there are opportunities to take part in organised activities – there’s lots of arts and crafts like clay and pottery, outdoor cooking on an open fire, playing with slime or dressing up in costume and creating their own plays or performances.

A lot of playgrounds have garden areas so they can grow their own vegetables. So, depending on what your child is into, there’s something for everyone. And they’re free, so having a resource like that is great with all the cost of living pressures.

There’s also the social aspect. There will be children from different schools, backgrounds, and cultures. Young people get to break down boundaries that often they don’t get to do elsewhere.

Each adventure playground has its own feel. So, I’d encourage people to go and visit each one because there’s always something different to try.

Adventure playgrounds are open for after-school sessions and in the summer holidays.

They’re supervised and free for children aged six to 13 who live or go to school here. Visit islington.gov.uk/AdventurePlaygrounds