Quick! The Telegraph would like your comments on the great British sandpit shortage

Tddlers piss in them. Yuck.

it's here

sandpits - can you post a link to your article here once it is done?
Thanks

thanks artichokes it is [email protected] (may or may not end up quoting as it may be too late to add more to the story) but if you could send me your full name and where you are from that would be great. Cheers

You can quote me sandpits. What's yr address?

Well Sandpits of the DT,

I'm a touch uncomfortable being addressed collectively as 'Hello Mums'

We are (mostly). But that doesn't give you the right to pigeonhole us

And I would never live it down if I was quoted in the Torygraph. So will decline thanks

A brand new one has just opening in Poole at in the play area at Whitecliff. Two others I know of and have used regularly are at Alum Chine in Bournemouth, a fabulous wooden ship filled with sand; and in Bushey Park, West London.

Great facilities if kept clean, and supervised by parents to prevent inappropraite behaviour (throwing sand etc).

Hello Mums, I am the person doing the story on sandpits and am very interested in your responses. Would love to quote some of you but would need full names, if any of you with strong opinions on the issue would like your thoughts heard on a broader scale, please respond asking for my email. Thank you for your thoughts!

Rhubarb - we're not near Lacock, it's just quite a fun trip for the children. They like the sandpit and the sheds. We're in Bathnes.

"By spicemonster on Wed 03-Jun-09 10:48:24
Do they custardo? Why would drunken people go to the trouble of climbing over the locked park gates at night and making their way to the sandpit to piss? Why not piss where they are? "

they are usually oh about 14 and on the swings - i am presuming its not that far to pis in the sandpit

ThingOne - has that always been your nickname on here? You and I might not be too far away from each other.

Yes, through the power of Mumsnet, I have been told about a local park that has a sandpit (and paddling pool). Located at Churchfields Recreation Ground, Weybridge - a public recreation ground since 1908.

Have taken the children I nanny there once so far. They enjoyed playing in the sand. No signs of 'foreign objects' in the sand. When we visited, the sandpit was used by numerous children.

As I have only been once so far, can't say if I will miss it if it were to be removed... but given the amount of people using it on our visit, my view is that it would be missed.

Another popular sandpit is at Sunningdale - managed by Sunningdale Parish Council. I visited this playground with sandpit a lot in a previous nanny job. It is very popular with Sunnindale locals in my view.

Rofl!!

LYNETTE DEAR

[shouts in ear trumpet]

YOU'RE REPEATING YOURSELF AGAIN DEARIE.

DON'T WORRY, THE NURSE WILL BE ROUND WITH OUR NICE PILLS AND THEN IT'S TIME FOR CORRIE.

I have noticed though, play areas with sandpits do attract a more more Boden clad kids than the average play area....

I have noticed though, play areas with sandpits do attract a more more Boden clad kids than the average play area....

cat

po

and really have the telegraph not got blondes at race courses to worry about
or 6th formers getting a level stressed and jumpign up and down

Rhubarb - I don't know where you are in Wiltshire but there's a decent sandpit at the Whitehall garden centre in Lacock.

I can't help feeling a bit sad at the number of people on this thread who wouldn't let their DCs play in sandpits - we are lucky enough to have two near us in Bristol, one walkable and one a short drive, and they are by far the most popular things in each play area.

I've never seen any cat poo or other poo in either one, despite both being in residential areas, and the dirtiest thing I've seen in there is probably a child's sock!

My DS absolutely loves them and spends ages playing in there, and yes, there's sand all over the hallway, but then I didn't have children to have a pristine house

I would be very sorry to see them replaced with 'safe' play areas which let's face it, aren't nearly as much fun.

Getting kind of fed up with telegraph journos using MN as a short cut to research because they are up against a deadline, then not fairly representing our views. happened with the older mums thread... hours of genuine engaged debate resulted in one line that supposedly reflected our views. Hmmph.

Opps! Sorry!

Our local town park has just be re-fitted with great new play eqipment, and masses of sand.

Personally I'm abit about the sand, and would have much rather they had installed nice squishy rubber flooring.

Chilren dont' seem to realise that sand hurts if it gets in eyes, and I had to explain in to my 10 and 6 year old who were throwing it around.

I've also had to pick up quite a bit of rubbish from the sand, including a plaster a child pulled off and discarded - rubbish can easily become hidden, and IMO become a health hazard.

NOt so much of a problem in our local park, but when I lived in Paris, where most parks had sand pigeons would wander around, and presumable speread thier germs though the sand.

Oh, and it gets in shoes so my DC's end up in bare feet or socks, and I have to keep taking mine off to give them a shake.

I'm praying the sand in our local park remains well maintained, or I might have to start avoiding that play area.

Our local town park has just be re-fitted with great new play eqipment, and masses of sand.

Personally I'm abit about the sand, and would have much rather they had installed nice squishy rubber flooring.

Chilren dont' seem to realise that sand hurts if it gets in eyes, and I had to explain in to my 10 and 6 year old who were throwing it around.

I've also had to pick up quite a bit of rubbish from the sand, including a plaster a child pulled off and discarded - rubbish can easily become hidden, and IMO become a health hazard.

NOt so much of a problem in our local park, but when I lived in Paris, where most parks had sand pigeons would wander around, and presumable speread thier germs though the sand.

Oh, and it gets in shoes so my DC's end up in bare feet or socks, and I have to keep taking mine off to give them a shake.

I'm praying the sand in our local park remains well maintained, or I might have to start avoiding that play area.

Our local town park has just be re-fitted with great new play eqipment, and masses of sand.

Personally I'm abit about the sand, and would have much rather they had installed nice squishy rubber flooring.

Chilren dont' seem to realise that sand hurts if it gets in eyes, and I had to explain in to my 10 and 6 year old who were throwing it around.

I've also had to pick up quite a bit of rubbish from the sand, including a plaster a child pulled off and discarded - rubbish can easily become hidden, and IMO become a health hazard.

NOt so much of a problem in our local park, but when I lived in Paris, where most parks had sand pigeons would wander around, and presumable speread thier germs though the sand.

Oh, and it gets in shoes so my DC's end up in bare feet or socks, and I have to keep taking mine off to give them a shake.

I'm praying the sand in our local park remains well maintained, or I might have to start avoiding that play area.

Our local town park has just be re-fitted with great new play eqipment, and masses of sand.

Personally I'm abit about the sand, and would have much rather they had installed nice squishy rubber flooring.

Chilren dont' seem to realise that sand hurts if it gets in eyes, and I had to explain in to my 10 and 6 year old who were throwing it around.

I've also had to pick up quite a bit of rubbish from the sand, including a plaster a child pulled off and discarded - rubbish can easily become hidden, and IMO become a health hazard.

NOt so much of a problem in our local park, but when I lived in Paris, where most parks had sand pigeons would wander around, and presumable speread thier germs though the sand.

Oh, and it gets in shoes so my DC's end up in bare feet or socks, and I have to keep taking mine off to give them a shake.

I'm praying the sand in our local park remains well maintained, or I might have to start avoiding that play area.