Gwealan Tops Adventure Playground is a registered charity (Charity number 1177542) dedicated to promoting play for children, young people and the wider community. Play is an essential part of childhood and human development with immeasurable benefits. With support from The National Lottery, Gwealan Tops is now able to develop its long-held ambition to provide a staffed adventure playground all year round. This is the first and only one in Cornwall.

Adventure playgrounds offer a unique form of staffed play provision where children can play in ways that they often can’t elsewhere. They provide opportunities for children to face challenges and risks whilst supervised by skilled playworkers. Benefits of adventure playgrounds include children and young people’s improved physical health, more respite for parents, as well as increased confidence and resilience among users. Adventure playgrounds can offer children – particularly vulnerable children living in areas of high social deprivation – places where they learn for themselves how to deal with risks and build the resilience needed to cope with life’s challenges. Because of the unique public service that adventure playgrounds offer, they often become the heart of a neighbourhood community.

The site is a large area with some structures, wild areas and lots of space to roam, explore, experiment and create. Arts, crafts and imaginative opportunities are offered alongside campfires, building, sports and outdoor experiences with the main purpose of supporting free play.

Due to increased traffic and parental fears children have less opportunity to play out by themselves and with their friends than their parents did. We particularly want to encourage school-aged children the opportunity to have the time and space to play, to test themselves, to try things out, to make friends, to create and destroy, and to have fun without their parents or other adults looking over their shoulders. During term-time we will be open for unaccompanied children aged 7 and over after-school on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and Saturday afternoons, once a registration form has been completed, and on weekdays during school holidays.