A six-month pilot project is making streets more welcoming to children.

Focusing on Palmers Green the trial is to see if community connections can be made to make playing outside unsupervised more enjoyable for youngsters.

Play street organisers built relationships with those who live and work in the town so they understand the importance of children developing their independence outside.

London Play director Paul Hocker explained: “The Play Quarter’s project is being piloted in Palmers Green, a community that has been supporting children's play through play streets for a number of years now.

“Working in partnership with residents from 5 play streets we devised the Play Quarter concept based on the idea that if a group of neighbours can make play happen on a street why couldn’t the whole community support children to play across a wider local area.”

Building on the goodwill of the community the project connects with the adult population, most of whom played out on the streets during their childhoods.

Mr Hocker continued: “Retailers, park services and faith groups were among the organisations that supported the pilot."

Now in its fifth month and positive changes are visible in Palmers Green.

Mr Hocker expanded: "Nearly six months in and a number of retailers have Play Quarter 'Pit Stop' stickers in their window, indicating to children this is a shop where they are welcome and can get help if needed.

“A walking bus has been established led by a London Play project worker that stops at various points in the Play Quarter to collect children and take them safely to Broomfield Park to play with their mates.”

Promoting the project to other boroughs is successful with Waltham Forest and Camden keen to develop Play Quarters.

In order to make the project as secure as possible volunteers will be recruited to run play sessions and ‘Safe Points’ set up at designated spots.

These ‘Safe Points’ – the community café in Bloomfield Park and the train station – will be areas where children know they can find a trustworthy adult if trouble arises.

A ‘peer buddies’ system is also planned to aid the establishment of a network of children who play together.

Mr Hocker added: “Its a simple idea and in a small way restores to children the opportunity to feel part of their community first-hand and in an age of screen-based leisure temptations, get children out and about.”

Further information is available from Catherine Nicholson by emailing dora@londonplay.org or telephoning 0203 384 8510.

Details can also be found on the Play Quarters Facebook page, which has regular updates on the project.