Helle Nebelong has contributed an article to the Swedish annual magazine Lustgården, published by Föreningen för Dendrologi och Parkvård (Association for Dendrology and Parks).
In the article, Helle provides an overview of her natural playground design practices and theories. She is inspired by the landscape architect, Carl Theodor Sørensen (1893–1979), and the key role his work and writings played in Denmark and beyond in the development of Skrammellegepladsen – the construction playground and in the setting up of the International Play Association in 1961. To illustrate Helles theories she reviews four different playgrounds that she has designed, three of them located in Copenhagen, Denmark and one designed for Colene Hoose Elementary School in Illinois, The Ilse and Charles Jobson Natural Play Park funded by The Jobson Family Foundation.
In the article, Helle discusses the value of standardized playground equipment designed by adults with no input from children, who basically prefer to make their own play and benefit from doing so. Helles playground designs often have hardly any fixed play equipment. In this context she further emphasizes the benefits of ‘green’ playground design and that children often long for being out where ‘there is nothing but nature’. In short, her message is that Nature is the best place for children to play and develop their creativity, social skills and motor skills.