New child friendly outdoor story trails launch across the city

A series of brand new outdoor storytelling trails located across Cardiff will begin opening to the public from later this month.

Delivered as part of Cardiff’s Child-Friendly City programme, the four bespoke trails have been created by Cardiff based storyteller Tamar Williams, each depicting tales of Welsh myth and legend.

The initiative aims to increase outdoor play opportunities by encouraging children and families to have fun outdoors whilst engaging with the environment around them. As well as taking children on a journey through the story accessible via QR codes, they will also be encouraged to make bark rubbings, build with sticks and discover secret places within the parks.

The first trail will open to the public from Saturday 27 March and is located at Bute Park, starting with a QR code at the Castle Street entrance near the Pettigrew Tea Rooms. Bute Park Story Trail : Child Friendly Cardiff

Three more trails will launch later in spring, located at Cardiff Bay, Forest Farm and Parc Cefn Onn. Available in Welsh and English, the stories have been recorded in partnership with Wales Millenium Centre.

A spokesperson for Cardiff Council said:

“Outdoor play has always been integral to children’s development, helping to engage them with their environment and surroundings.

“The importance and focus on outdoor play has been further strengthened during COVID-19. This is one of several Child-Friendly schemes to assist in direct recovery from the impact of the pandemic, helping to promote health and wellbeing amongst young families whilst contributing to sustainable play opportunities.”

Asked about the project, Tamar Williams said:

“I was born and raised in Cardiff and have lived here for most of my life, but I still think the city has so many secret places to explore. I believe that storytelling should be for everyone and that stories are indispensable in building a healthy world.I am hoping that these story trails will encourage children and their families to go off the beaten track, find some new magical places, and enjoy exploring them, all while listening to stories.”

Cardiff’s Child-Friendly vision places the rights and voices of children and young people at the heart of the city’s policies, strategies and services and this is one of several projects to be delivered through the All Wales Play Opportunities Grant which supports and increases play opportunities, in line with the Cardiff Play Sufficiency Assessment.

Recently, the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) recognised the pioneering role that Cardiff Council has played as one of the first to join its Child-Friendly Cities and Communities programme and that good progress has been made in embedding children’s rights into the Council’s strategies and the way in which our young people are supported and nurtured.

As a result, UNICEF UK has recommended that Cardiff submits for Child-Friendly City recognition in the Autumn of 2021.

UNICEF UK’s Child-Friendly Cities and Communities Programme Director, Naomi Danquah, said:

“The right to play is a fundamental human right, equally as important as children’s right to education, or protection from harm.

“It’s fantastic to see Cardiff creating more opportunities for children to claim their right to play across the city, especially as they emerge from such a challenging year.”  A Cardiff Council spokesperson added: “We will continue to carry out our vision to further embed children’s rights into our communities, ensuring that children and young people are meaningfully involved in the decisions that affect them.”