Children big and small have been exploring a secret path, climbing into logs and balancing on beams in a Holloway park, following a major playground revamp.

The play area in Dalmeny Park, Dalmeny Road, has reopened ready for school half-term holidays, giving families in Holloway the latest innovations in natural play.

The new equipment, chosen in consultation with nearby children, includes a low level walkway between trees, secret paths and a swale mound with balance beams. Playground improvements also include a sand pit and basket swing.

Cllr Claudia Webbe, Islington Council’s executive member for environment and transport said, “We are committed to ensuring children can go out and play in a safe and exciting environment especially as less than one in ten homes in the borough has a garden.

“This new play equipment has been selected in consultation with local children, by families, for families to use and allows children to play creatively near their homes.”

The new play features were funded by section 106 money – income the council secured from new housing developments in the borough to improve local facilities – and topped up with money from local initiative funding, which is allocated by ward councillors.