Activity
Day at Llancaiach Fawr
The sun was out, the sky was blue……….yes, it was a
great day, July 26th - our first activity day, planned jointly between
Wales PPA and the good folks at Llancaiach Fawr Manor near Nelson,
Caerphilly. The setting was just right, with plenty of both indoor
and outdoor space in which everyone could spread out.
Llancaiach Fawr Manor is a 17th century building, now owned by Caerphilly
Borough Council, set in open ground on a hill between Gelligaer and
Nelson with stunning views and a great feeling of friendliness despite
the reputed nine ghosts which inhabit the place. To the rear of the
manor has been built an education block, barn, restaurant and visitor
centre all of which open out on to a fine paved courtyard. This in
turn leads to a lovely open meadow surrounded by a few stately old
trees.
We had spent all the previous day setting out the indoor activities;
in the education building we arranged big sets of tables and chairs
for creative play. These consisted of one set for the green playdough,
one for junk modelling, one for collage sticking and one huge one
covered in plastic for painting activities. In the centre was a small
table for paper resources and a big tarpaulin on the floor for finished
art work. At the end of the education block, in contrast, was the
Calm Space, with soft lights, relaxing ambient music and an aromatherapist
in attendance.
On the morning of the big day we set up the outdoor activities. The
courtyard was the setting for Matthew the potter and his wheel, various
skittle-type games, milking the cow with the startled expression,
as well as stalls set up by Wales PPA, TWF and Creative Play. Down
in the meadow were slides, a parachute, a ball pool and some large
scale construction play, as well as outdoor painting, sand and water
play.
By 10 a.m. we were just about ready and all we needed were some real
life families to turn up. Perhaps no-one would come? We need not have
worried; on the dot of 10 a.m. a large coach arrived from Merthyr
Tydful and out poured 100 assorted human beings, many of them under
5; and from then on the whole event seemed to have a life of its own.
During the day nearly 800 people visited the event. It was truly
a joy to see families happily playing together in such a relaxed and
creative atmosphere. All the hard work was worth it, and it does show
that if the right materials are offered in the right way, then very
little actual direction is necessary.
At one point I looked across the meadow and saw adults and children
playing together with the parachute, other children disappearing beneath
the balls in the ball pool, some splashing paint, water or sand or
letting off steam with skittles or balls. There was storytelling and
music making under the trees and children dressing up and enjoying
role play on the bank. Inside there were two performances by the amateur
dramatic people of Blackwood in the barn.
I looked into the education block, to see a wonderful scene of massed
and messy families playing so happily together with the blue tarpaulin
on the floor becoming more and more covered with art work. Another
look into the Calm Space area at the end of the building revealed
a small group of adults and children enjoying the ambient music, including
one little one lying stretched out on the floor in true chilled out
style among the gentle lighting and the soothing sounds.
Much ice cream was consumed, many pots were made, and eventually
the last stragglers had to be persuaded to leave at 5 p.m., with us
trying to clear up around them.
Chatting together afterwards, all the organisers agreed without question
that it had been a tremendous day, very successful not only in terms
of actual numbers of people attending, but also because of the happy
relaxed atmosphere generated by the play activities. All agreed that
we should do our best to make this an annual event.
J Beth Orriss
Area Organiser, Caerphilly
