Alistair Hardaker | Image: English Heritage
Historic sites introduce bonding benches and walks as part of initiatives to address parental isolation at some of its 400 properties.
English Heritage has announced plans to tackle parental isolation by installing ‘bonding benches’ at historic sites, and hosting walks for new parents.
The benches will be installed ahead of the half-term holidays and located in areas where families tend to gather, such as near playgrounds or open grassland. They will feature sliders which can be moved between “up for a chat” and “craving quiet” depending on the visitor’s mood.
Research from the NCT (National Childbirth Trust) shows that 62% of new parents feel lonely or isolated at least some of the time, and 87% feel overwhelmed. Almost a quarter of new parents said they did not have a strong support network around them. Families represent 35% of all English Heritage visits.
Emma Fernandes Lopes, Assistant Operations Director at English Heritage, said: ““As parents, we are hardwired to prioritise our children’s wellbeing. We bring them out to wonderful places like English Heritage sites to explore the outdoors and expand their horizons. But we often forget that the key to children’s wellbeing is actually found in whether their parents feel happy and supported.
“Modern parenthood can be a really isolating experience. Many parents live a long way away from their extended families and have no support network to lean back on, and it’s often a real challenge to make friends who hold the same values and interests. With families making up more than a third of all English Heritage visits, we want to use our sites to help parents make those essential connections.”
The NCT will bring NCT Walk and Talks to selected English Heritage sites. The free, volunteer-led walks are suitable for buggies, slings and small children and enable new, pre-school and expectant parents to meet and share experiences.
Walks will be held at Audley End in Essex, Kenwood in North London, Marble Hill in South West London, Wrest Park in Bedfordshire and Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire. Volunteers are being sought to lead walks at more of English Heritage’s 400 sites.
Family visitors can pick up an Adventurer’s Checklist containing 25 tasks designed to encourage interaction between different families. Other activities vary by site and include playgroups, chatty cafés and children’s crafting.
