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Iffley Fields Residents Association
The Childrens Playground
The Playground for children up to 8 is very popular and well used. It is managed and maintained by the Council. Residents had raised concerns that it was starting to deteriorate and prone to flooding to IFRA. Following a site visit and report in 2023, we have been working with the Council to reduce the flooding, maintain the equipment have raised funds for some new equipment. ​A group of parents organised play events for children and parents over the summer
IFRA formed a new project group in early 2024 called the ‘Iffley Fields Playground Subgroup’. Together with local stakeholders and in consultation with Oxford City Council we have been working to improve the popular recreation/play area on Meadow Lane to develop it as a NaturEscape - becoming more of a home for groups that support outdoor play, exploration, and interaction with natural elements such as water, earth and vegetation. New planting and features are planned to improve the existing playground, bringing biodiversity, colour and social connection.
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The planned Iffley Fields NaturEscape is co-created and reflects the ideas and effort of the community it serves. Our project group has been established to take this work forward with working groups, workdays and community events happening over the Summer and Autumn of 2024 and planned for 2025. We are also working with the NaturEffect CIC bringing in their experience of co-curated public green spaces – wild garden design for the benefit of people and the environment. The aim of our Iffley Fields NaturEscape is to:
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Provide an exploratory space with the emphasis on planting wildflowers and edible foraging.
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Connect zones through pathways and to create discovery journeys through the space with planting for colour, joy, playfulness, wellbeing, food, nourishment and engagement.
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Encourage biodiversity on the site and fulfil a crucial role in creating an ecosystem through insect and bee-friendly planting, a pond (covered with a safe grate), rainwater harvesting, native hedging, and composting.
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Be stewarded by programmes to support communication, social cohesion, increase confidence and mental wellbeing, healing and relaxation.
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Be located within and integral to and accessible to all, and support a culturally diverse community and age ranges.
We are designing, creating and using the space with a focus on community engagement through:
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Learning together and skills share – e.g. about species living in the garden, medicinal and edible wild plants
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Social occasions and cultivating relationships through fire circles, singing, and seasonal festivals.
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Stewardship through working parties to take care of the site, nature and share feasts together.