Sorenson’s influence on the development of adventure play is well known, but far less is known about his co-collaborator Hans Dragehjelm (1875-1948).Together, Dragehjelm and Sorenson worked on a major transformation of Klampenborg (proposal titled “The Children’s Paradise).

In the documentation they sent, Hans Dragehjelm argued for the design of the park, saying that there it:

“Would be possible for parents with children of the common people, at no great expense, to spend their leisure time in safe surroundings, so that the children would find an outlet for their natural urge to be “children of nature”. I am thinking in particular of the chance to play in open terrain, among trees and bushes, and in close contact with small animals, to which children in big cities in particular usually have no access.”

It is of note that in the 1930’s Dragehjelm was already a man of significant influence regarding children’s play. He introduced the sand-box in Denmark in 1907 (he was also known as the father of the sand box) and was later the man behind four ministerial circulars (1918, 1923, 1925 and 1935) on playground furnishings.

Hans Dragehjelm was not just a school teacher but was very influenced by Froebel thinking. Dragehjelm, along with Sofus Bagger, founded the Froebel Society in Denmark in 1902. The ‘Froebel influence’ may, in part, explain the context of how Sorenson came to realise and create the first junk playground.

Unfortunately little is known about Dragehjelm and his influence on the development of junk/adventure play.