The charity has introduced the benches to all its properties to help visitors start up conversations, launching communal activities for young families, and hosting NCT (National Childbirth Trust) volunteer-led sling and buggy walks at selected sites.
New research from the NCT* shows that 62% of new parents feel lonely or isolated at least some of the time, and 87% feel overwhelmed. Almost a quarter (23%) of new parents said that they didn’t have a strong support network around them.
With families representing 35% of all English Heritage visits, and over 400 sites in its care right across England, the charity is uniquely placed to help support and bring like-minded parents together in a fun, informal setting.
With this in mind, English Heritage is installing “bonding benches” at its historic sites across the country ahead of the half-term holidays.
Located in areas where families tend to gravitate, such as near playgrounds or open grassland, the benches will feature sliders which can be moved between ‘up for a chat’ and ‘craving quiet’, depending on your mood. The charity hopes that this will help parents take the first step to starting up conversations with new people and making new connections whilst their children play.
See below at the West Midlands English heritage sites near Birmingham where you can use these new ‘bonding benches’:
1. Stokesay Castle
Located in Shropshire, This castle is home to the best-preserved fortified medieval manor house in all of England. The castle was built in the 1280s and 1290s by Laurence of Ludlow, who was the richest man in England in the 13th century. The lovely cottage-style walled garden is open to visitors today. | DeFacto, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
2. Much Wenlock Priory
Located in Shropshire, the site features impressive 13th-century church remains. Much Wenlock was founded as a monastery in AD 680 by King Merewalh. | Google
3. Shrewsbury Flaxmill and Maltings
A key remnant of the Industrial Revolution, this building was first built in 1797, and is considered to be the first multi-level building in the world to use an internal iron frame. Due to this, Shrewsbury Flaxmill and Maltings has earned the nickname as being the 'grandparent of skyscrapers'. | Roy Hughes, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
4. Wroxeter Roman City
Located in Shropshire, this is a well-preserved archaeological site managed by English heritage. It offers a glimpse into Roman civilisation as it first emerged between the 1st-2nd century. | Michael Garlick, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons