Developers of North-east community, Countesswells, have shaped the neighbourhood in a way that promotes healthy outdoor lifestyles.
In October last year The Scottish Government, Play Scotland and various other industry bodies produced Scotland’s ‘Outdoor Play & Learning Coalition Position Statement’ to underline the importance of outdoor learning opportunities and to highlight the impact of playing outdoors on both the physical and mental wellbeing of children
The report revealed that, among 11-15-year-olds, only 21% of boys and 15% of girls got at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity of moderate intensity which is the national and international recommendation.
This puts Scotland at the bottom of a ranked table of 40 other nations compared by The Global Matrix 3.0 report card on physical activity for children and youth. This report card was developed to better understand variation in children’s physical activity across the globe.
Presently, 29% of children in Scotland are at risk of being overweight, including 14% who are at risk of being obese. In support of the Scottish Government’s plans to halve childhood obesity by 2030, the developers behind Countesswells focused on tackling the two major lifestyle factors associated with the growth of obesity - physical inactivity and poor diet.
When planning the new community, the developers prioritised the creation of greenspace, parks and outdoor features to promote and encourage children to take part in outdoor activity and exercise. In addition, Countesswells has a genuine commitment to sustainability.
This includes clever use of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) so that they become attractive water features which attract a variety of new species, re-use of natural stone dug up during construction and the introduction of a community orchard where residents can plant, grow and nurture their own fruit, vegetables and herbs. Not only does this support improvements to diet, but it also encourages exercise due to the physical activity required when maintaining the community space. This focus on traditional community activities and values from bygone days but with everything required for modern living, including some of the fastest broadband speeds in the UK, make Countesswells extra special.
In today’s technology driven world, most childhood activities tend to be based indoors and reliant on technology. But the specialist team of planners behind Countesswells recognised the importance of quality outdoor features and inviting green areas that can compete compellingly for a child’s attention.
This is why the specially designed playpark was a priority in the early stages. The children’s playpark, complete with rustic features, including swings, slides and a sandy ‘beach’ area, was opened in December 2017 and is fully endorsed by PlayScotland. Children can play freely with the pathways and bridges linking greenspace without the need to cross any roads.
Cherie Morgan, play development officer at Play Scotland said: “The benefits of outdoor play and learning are fundamentally important in the mental and physical wellbeing of children. We are committed to giving children and young people the opportunities to engage in experiences daily in quality environments.
“Scotland’s National Play Strategy aims to make Scotland the best place to grow up – a nation which grasps the value of outdoor and active play. Integrating these outdoor play areas and green spaces as a priority in the development of Countesswells provides the opportunity for local children to thrive, offering them the best quality of life and safeguarding their future.”
Bridleways, footpaths and cycle paths connect the community with neighbouring Countesswells and Hazlehead woods, havens for local wildlife and inquisitive children.
Project manager for Countesswells, Ryan Swan, added: “The increase in computer gaming and urbanisation of communities with a lack of safe, green areas in which to play make it harder for children and parents. As a result, our children perhaps don’t have the same sense of freedom we had when growing up.
“Our ethos at Countesswells is to bring back that sense of freedom and traditional community values. Combined with modern living and great access to Aberdeen City centre, Countesswells gives families a sanctuary and children the opportunity to discover a healthy outdoor lifestyle.”
The new community will ultimately feature four large parks; including the 11-hectare Cults Burn Park, 3,000 new homes, schools and shops, which will all be phased in over the coming years. All connected by winding streets and just a 10-minute drive from Aberdeen city centre.
