Ouseburn Farm has been selected as the national Playful Green Planet (PGP) “steward” for Newcastle, securing £50,000 to create a thriving outdoor classroom for children aged 0–11.

Ouseburn Farm was chosen through a competitive Open Call informed by the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) and led locally by the North East Community Forest (NECF).  The funded project will establish a flagship PGP site in Newcastle between 2025 and 2028, delivered in partnership between Ouseburn Farm and the NECF.

Cllr Juna Sathian, Cabinet Member for Climate and Transport, Newcastle City Council said: “This funding is brilliant news for Newcastle. Ouseburn Farm is showing how local green spaces can help children build confidence, curiosity and care for the natural world, while strengthening our communities and supporting nature recovery at the same time.”

The Newcastle site will form part of a growing national network of Playful Green Planet locations that support climate literacy, ecological citizenship, and community wellbeing. The programme uses nature‑based play and outdoor learning to help children build the awareness, skills and confidence they need to care for people and planet.

The RSA identified Newcastle as a high‑priority area due to its need for early years nature play and the availability of green space suitable for community transformation. The project also aligns with the NECF’s long‑term vision for nature recovery and environmental education in the region.

Seed funding for the PGP site has been provided by BT, whose community investment commitments support social‑value initiatives linked to major government contracts. Additional funding will be provided by the North East Community Forest Trees for Climate grant to support community engagement, tree planting and aftercare.

The Playful Green Planet network is guided by four key principles:

• For all children: Accessible to every child under 11, and to the early years, community and school settings that support them.
• Co‑creation in place: Shaped with and for local people, informed by the strengths, needs and ideas of communities, educators and children.
• Triple benefits: Creating measurable improvements in children’s ecological citizenship, community connectedness and local nature regeneration.
• Sustainable: Embedded within local services and designed to deliver long‑term impact.

The PGP programme at Ouseburn Farm will deliver:

• Community stewardship: Engaging educators, families, early years settings and green‑space managers.
• Co‑design with children and residents: Creating biodiverse outdoor play habitats shaped by the community.
• Nature regeneration: Including tree, hedgerow and orchard planting embedded into the site’s landscape.
• Monitoring and evaluation: Tracking the programme’s impact on wellbeing, nature connection and climate action.
• National peer learning: Linking with other PGP sites across the UK for shared learning, innovation and influence.

Rachel Grice, Head of Strategic Impact at the Royal Society of Arts said: “The RSA is so excited to be working with Ouseburn Farm and North-East Community Forest as new stewards of the Playful Green Planet programme. We’ve seen through our pilot projects how outdoor play in green spaces improves connection and care for nature in children, and we’re thrilled to be expanding the Playful Green Planet Network in the North East.”

Ross Weddle, NECF Chair said “This project embodies true partnership; bringing together communities, children, educators and local organisations to create a shared space rooted in our collective values. By working side by side, we can nurture children’s connection with nature and help build a greener Newcastle and North East together.”

Katie Bates, Ouseburn Farm Manager said: “Ouseburn Farm has always been about community and learning through nature. This funding allows us to go further, creating a space where children can explore, build confidence, and develop a lasting connection with the natural world. We are proud to be Newcastle’s Playful Green Planet steward and can’t wait to bringing families, schools, and local partners together to shape something meaningful and long-term for our city.”

Taner Mustafa, Social Value process lead’, BT said; “We are delighted to support with this Playful Green Planet site. This is a great initiative to not only support the creation and growth of greenspaces but to also invest into community organisations who are doing amazing things. Most importantly, I am looking forward to understanding the benefit this project will have on the local community!”