Lighthouse for Pitsmoor on Sea

Pitsmoor Adventure Playground is a charitable organisation set up by local people, and is as popular as it’s ever been. Qualified staff are on site during opening hours to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for local children and their parents.

In the summer of 2017 they declared themselves, Pitsmoor-on-Sea. Which is quiet something being as Pitsmoor, Sheffield is about as far in any direction from the sea you can be in England! As an admirer of lighthouses and number 1 fan of the playground, being asked if I could help them make a working lighthouse was a dream-commission.

There’s a patch of grass on the bank, at the foot of the T-Rex and the Harry Brearley steel slide, we lay out big boards, pots of paints and work together, making projects for the playground. It’s a proper sun-trap (weather permitting!) and provides a little haven away from the noisy chaos below. We started by marking out the design of the lighthouse: door, windows, light, rocks and sea. Then we worked out  what else could be included. Just as we started painting, two lads came asking if they could do something. “Sure! How about painting a seagull?” I chirped – “But I can’t!” protested one. I found a pic of a seagull on my phone for them to copy and straight away they started painting. They were really surprised and delighted with how they turned out. I love it when this happens.

“Metamorphosing ‘I can’t’ into an ‘I did!’ is a marvellous thing” as my friend, Angela put it so well.

Twenty or so years ago I used to bring my daughter Ella to the playground, so it was a treat so have her come along, all grown up and mum herself now. She brought her three boys along who all got stuck in –

“I absolutely loved being a part of making the Lighthouse at the playground. It was so great to be able to do some art (it’s been a while!) in the community with great people and some genuinely amazing kids too. A day I will never forget, I feel proud to have been a part of it.” Ella Amber Morgan