Two Solihull parks have been brought to life in the popular video game Minecraft as part of a project to improve accessibility and inclusivity in parks and open spaces.
Solihull Council commissioned young adults with learning disabilities at Newlands Bishop Farm to recreate the 130-acre Malvern and Brueton Parks in Minecraft.
Over the course of six months, talented young adults designed an online replica which features everything from the park’s tennis courts, lake, and an ice cream van; alongside over 50 interactive characters, wandering animals and a guided treasure hunt.
As well as developing work-based skills for adults with learning disabilities through paid employment, the innovative project contributes to the Council’s commitment to improving accessibility and inclusivity across parks and open spaces by creating the borough’s first ‘digital parks’.
Anybody with access to Minecraft and an internet connection can enjoy the replica parks at any time of day or night, with details available at www.solihull.gov.uk/minecraft-parks.
Solihull Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, Cllr Ken Hawkins, said:
“We have fantastic parks and open spaces in Solihull and bringing them to the world’s best-selling video game is a great way to open them up to even more people, particularly those who cannot access them in person – for instance, if they have issues getting to a physical location.
“It will also help those who have social difficulties within open environments by providing a safe introduction to the parks from the comfort of their own home, giving them the confidence to visit physically.
“We are also inviting schools to access the parks in Minecraft, providing them with a learning tool which children can use to explore them virtually, or get creative and edit them.”
Minecraft has over 200 million monthly players worldwide and is the best-selling video game of all time. Popular with children, young adults and adults alike, players can immerse themselves in an open world and create almost anything imaginable out of Lego-style blocks.
Newlands Bishop Farm, which is based in Catherine-de-Barnes and is part of the charity Family Care Trust, supports people with learning disabilities and mental health conditions through work-based learning, training and employment.
Its weekly Minecraft group has been running since 2021 to help build confidence, teach core skills, and reduce isolation among young adults, with an interactive Minecraft version of Newlands Bishop Farm designed by young adults earning a high commendation at the 2024 Disability Smart Awards.
Jon Watts, Media and Fundraising Officer at The Family Care Trust, said:
“Our service users absolutely love Minecraft – it’s one of the most popular things that we do. They have particularly enjoyed this project, which has helped them to be creative and collaborative in a safe online environment, whilst learning elements of coding, planning and mathematics in a more captivating way.”
Nathan, who is one of the young adults who designed the Minecraft park, said:
“Being part of the project has given me more confidence not only in IT and design, but it has also built my self-confidence too and that means so much to me.”
Amii, who also designed the park, added:
“I may be biased, but my favourite part of the park is the shelter by the pond. My Great Grandfather built it, and it is something my family is very proud of.”