CHILDREN from across the city have put their imaginations to the test by transforming sticks, leaves and old sheets into dens to be proud of.
Around 40 youngsters, all of primary school age, met in the woods beside the Jeely Piece Club in Castlemilk. They built three dens made from things they could find; old sheets and towels, rocks, leaves, and pieces of wood.
The project was part of the Come Den With Me competition, which encourages children to get outdoors and make a den and then take a picture of it.
Eilidh Fleming, 10, from Paisley, worked on the Woodland Den. She said: "It has got a big tree and we had to get branches to put over it so it would be covered so it was a proper den with windows. I collected the rocks and we had an idea of making an X-Box."
Eilidh worked on her den with 10 other children including her sister Kalin, eight. She said: "We play games but we don't make dens but we do play outside. Because we are with a club here I have made a couple of new friends."
The Come Den With Me competition is taking place in the lead up to the 25th annual National Playday, on Wednesday August 1.
Voters will decide who is the overall winner and the prize is £100 worth of shopping vouchers to buy outdoor clothes and toys.
This year's theme is Get Out and Play! and the competition aims to encourage families across Glasgow to take part.
The children from the Jeely Piece Club invited each other to mark their dens and their hospitality skills.
Anna Zhang, six, from the Gorbals, said: "I have been collecting leaves and I have made a ladder and because it is my ladder it's called Anna's Ladder.
"My favourite thing was helping to do the tent. This is the first time I have done something like this and I'm having a good time."
Friends Chloe Murray, seven, and Elizabeth Millard, eight, both from Paisley, said they had made a den with a balcony, a ladder and front and back entrances.
Elizabeth said: "It had to be spacious because there is a lot of us to fit in it.
"My favourite bit was trying to fill in all the gaps with the leaves. I would definitely like to do more."
Jeely Piece Club is one of three charities in Glasgow receiving money from Inspiring Scotland's Go2Play fund, in partnership with the Scottish Government.
The money, which is also going to PEEK – Possibilities East End Kids – and Playbusters, pays for play rangers to lead activities for children. More outdoor activities will take place across the city on National Playday.
Andrea McMillan, learning manager at Glasgow Life, who organised the competition, said: "It is a celebration of play and an opportunity to highlight the importance of it. It is encouraging people to play together with no age restrictions.
"One of the benefits of playing outdoors is the opportunity to learn more about their environment – the children are using leaves, sticks and found materials."
Andrea said the project had social benefits like encouraging cooperation between children to achieve something big. She said: "Get involved and have fun, you don't need special equipment to build a great den, you just need imagination."
Archie Graham, chairman of Glasgow Life added: "It is important for young people to experience play and enjoy what the outdoors has to offer. Our vision is for all children to have the opportunity to develop through play and celebrations like the ones taking place for Play Day demonstrate our commitment to this."
To enter the competition send a picture of your den to Glasgow Life via the Come Den With Me app on the Parent Zone Facebook page.
matty.sutton@eveningtimes.co.uk