ABSTRACT
This chapter refers natural play areas as a loose description for a range of outdoor play elements that encourage contact with nature: water features, digging patches, gardens, and animal and bird homes. It explains children's play or interactions with nature, the common thread is that children can follow their interests and explore the properties of whatever is available to them in their outdoor space. Although a planting or gardening programme for children can be carried out throughout most of the playground, there is still a need for setting aside a special area for children to plan, tend and enjoy, which is largely their responsibility to care for and look after. An outdoor play environment provides more formal opportunities for children to have contact with animals and birds. The ideas for including animals will depend on the viability of location of the centre and ensuring that the spatial provision for animals does not compromise the diversity of other play options.
