Britain's first outdoor playground for the elderly opened on Wednesday with dozens of older people flocking to exercise in the winter air on brightly coloured outdoor equipment. An elderly man walks through Primrose Hill in London in an undated file photo. REUTERS/Kevin LamarqueLONDON (Reuters Life!), January 30, 2008:
Britain's first outdoor playground for the elderly opened on Wednesday with dozens of older people flocking to exercise in the winter air on brightly colored outdoor equipment.
Residents of state housing in the northern English city of Manchester lobbied the local housing management firm to build the area after hearing of a similar scheme in Germany. They say it is ideal for the area's ageing population.
"You might say I'm being daft but it gives you a real buzz and afterwards you feel fantastic," Peggy Yuill, 74, told Reuters by telephone from the bustling post-launch lunch. "We can't believe how it has taken off."
Yuill, a member of the local residents association who pushed for the play area, said she had last been on a playground when her son -- now 41 with three children -- was growing up.
The equipment, set up next to an existing children's playground, includes a static cycling machine, another that mimics the workout given by skiing and others that can be used by wheelchair users. More than 60 tried it on Wednesday.
"You can take the grandchildren to the under fives play area and if there is someone to watch them you can have a go on the adult playground," she said. "It is for the elderly but anyone can use it. The most important thing is that you cannot hurt yourself and it won't go any faster than what your body wants it to do."
Reporting by Peter Apps
© Reuters 2008
