Release the Wolves! Go Karting on the Heygate Estate

Yesterday was another chaotic day of fun and mayhem for us as we took part in 'Release the Wolves' - a brilliant Go Kart race around the walkways of the Heygate. 

Organised by Cristina with five local youth groups, the race was a great success and involved everyone. Our team of Joseph, Hannah, Timothy and Nathaniel were amazing, with Timothy crashing straight into a wall but gallantly continuing and completing the circuit. Who says 4 year olds aren't hardcore!? The teams we were up against were aged 10 - 14, so we were at a slight disadvantage but didn't let that sway us! (See our team in Blue being unintimidated standing their ground next to the orange 'RRR' team)

Yes, we came fifth... out of five. But we had a brilliant time and we're sure the Pembroke Speed Frogs will live to race again! 

Giving the tyres a final pump for that extra speed...

Standing our ground!

On your marks...

First blind corner of the circuit...

Hannah good to go!

Nathaniel giving Timothy a final Health and Safety check.

The abandoned Heygate temporarily populated again.

A healthy snack to keep the team going...

Julian giving Nathaniel a hand up the last slope. 

Eleanor Shipman

PLAY SWAP

Go Karting Workshop with Christina from the Heygate

Today was a very special Art and Gardening Session as we had guests Christina and co from the Heygate Estate to run a Go Kart building session for upcoming Heygate Grand Prix on Sept 1st. Christina has been running Go Kart decorating sessions with local youth groups who will bring their creations to the abandoned estate to race this Autumn. 

The regular gardening group extended to include some local families I have met during filming, which made a lovely but rather large group to collaborate on the Go Kart design. The children worked very well together, from a two year old to a twelve year old everyone contributed to creating the Pembroke Pocket Garden vehicle. A name is yet to be decided, but suggestions included 'Fire Garden' and 'Press the Frog' (our horn was a ribbeting frog). 

With flowers, real orchids, wooden fences, our own pond, two frogs and blazing flames coming out of two huge exhausts I think we have a good chance in the competition... 

Eleanor Shipman

PLAY SWAP

Game Collection from Latin American dance group Gotitas de Sabor

On Saturday afternoon I went to visit the Latin American dance group Gotitas de Sabor (www.gotitasdesabor.com) in an empty shop unit at the edge of the Heygate to collect some new street games from the children. 

Monica, the director, welcomed me in to the group and kindly allowed me to chat to the young people and gather some games from them to add to my ever growing archive. The children were very enthusiastic and taught me some brilliant new games such as Splat!, Family It, Shooting and Stuck in the Mud. 

Eleanor Shipman

PLAY SWAP

Another fantastically chaotic lunchtime with Surrey Square School

Regular lunchtime play continued today with another visit to Surrey Square Primary School, our neighbours just a two minute walk away from Pembroke House. 

It is lovely to be building up relationships with the students, as more and more of them recognise me as I come in to the school each Wednesday. This week we were continuing game collection and focusing on 'Re-imagining the Heygate' - the workshop previously run with the Older Person's Lunch Club and punters at the Queen's Jubilee Party. 

Using photographs of the Heygate and surrounding areas, I invited the children to draw their imagined play equipment onto the buildings, trees, lamposts and walkways. Working with Year 1s was quite a challenge, as the majority of children were only 5 years old, but they did a fantastic job and came up with some great proposals for urban play.

I am hoping to set up a more regular workshop with some Surrey Square School students, perhaps to build up into a larger project or event... 

Eleanor Shipman

Pembroke People