We are very proud of our large bespoke play garden at Cygnets. Particularly because research shows children whose outdoor play areas were transformed from gravel yards to mini-forests showed improved immune systems within a month, research has shown.
Scientists believe this is because the children had developed more diverse microbes on their skin and in their guts than the children whose playgrounds were not upgraded.
The researchers said their experiment shows it may be possible to improve the development of the immune system with relatively simple changes to the living environments of urban children.
The research was published in the journal Science Advances. The children were between three and five years old and spread between 10 similar daycare centres. In four centres, turf from natural forest floors, complete with dwarf shrubs, blueberries, crowberry, and mosses, were installed in previously bare play areas.
Tests after 28 days showed the diversity of microbes on the children’s skin was a third higher than for those still playing in gravel yards and was significantly increased in the gut.
A report in 2019 by the UK’s Royal Society for Public Health concluded that grubbing around outside is important for building a robust immune system, but that cleanliness is still vital when people are preparing and eating food.
