Natural playscapes…and dreams

We began thinking about designs for the backyard again on the weekend. Since we moved into this house over 2 years ago we began focusing on getting the front weeded and a vegie garden established. It was all very overgrown and i really wish we had taken some before photos just to remind ourselves of how far we have come…hence one of the reasons for this blog!

We really have to leave the front for now and get the backyard started as we need a safe space for 2 toddlers to play. Although we have fenced the yard it is far from safe yet as there is a large drop off that the previous owners had begun turning into a garden but never finished. There are large bushrocks everywhere and when we started to dig we realised that builders have buried asbestos roofing material in the ground when they moved the house here.So a lot to do and a bit overwhelming as we just aren't getting the time to spend on it at the moment due to looking after 2 very active toddlers!

Once upon a time we would landscape and garden from dawn to dusk and achieve so much but i fear those days are over for a little while. Our plan of action is to at least get the yard safe so we can have them play out there while we then landscape and build their play area.

At the moment, his patient self (Gary)is getting out on the excavator when he can and doing some levelling ready for putting gardens and playarea in. Also moving around the bush rocks which is a slow process due to their weight (and a little scary orying about snakes)!

Although we have a basic plan we really do still need to work on our design and are lucky to have such a big area to work with i know. We do want a cubby and swing set which his patient self is itching to make but having a childcare background i am really keen to incorporate some real learning spaces for the girls in this backyard. I want to have natural areas they can hide in, collect things, climb on things, tactile experiences and all that nature has to offer as well as the more traditional gross motor skill outdoor basics.

I have been really inspired by this site Play Based Learning and this Let the Children play – could just spend hours reading both….trouble is i keep changing my ideas as i come across more great ones! They have wonderful ideas for all sorts of children's play, not just outside.

The backyard will be a slow process and i realise now not ready for summer play unfortunately but we have to work with the time and resources we have and for now i will keep collecting my ideas while Gary lays the ground work.

Have you come across any great ideas for building natural playscapes or built some yourself already? I'd love to see them if you have so please leave a link in comments!

Before i go i'm wondering if anyone can help me with a vegie garden problem i am really struggling with. Over the last month most of the plants seem to be developing this reddy black spot all over the leaves and eventually they seem to shrivel, go brown and die. I'm pretty sure it is the same as what is getting the marigolds.