Due to open to visitors this summer, Nature’s Playground will be one of the biggest outdoor play areas in the South West, representing the largest investment in children’s outdoor play since Eden opened in a former china clay quarry near St Austell, Cornwall, 22 years ago.
Created with nature and adventure at its heart, Nature’s Playground will feature slides, swing sets, water play, suspended nets and even a miniature clay quarry.
The centrepiece is the majestic Tree of Life tower that will stand at nine metres tall. Children will scramble, crawl and climb their way through and over the tree to the viewing nest at the very top, before shooting down the corkscrew tube slide.
The new site will cover an area of nearly 500 square metres of play – equivalent to two and a half tennis courts.
Designed to nestle seamlessly within an existing sloped woodland landscape, the expansive adventure play area will provide imaginative multi-level, sensory and accessible play from tree base to canopy.
It will immerse children in a wonderful woodland world with diverse types of play to excite and engage all ages, sparking the imagination and incorporating a range of play types that will help develop problem solving and teamwork skills.
Eden’s Chief Marketing Officer Emma Evans said: “Eden is all about connecting with the natural world and we are investing hugely in play to encourage children of all ages and abilities to discover this connection in an exciting and unforgettable way.
“We know that being active outside in the fresh air is a brilliant way for children to develop mentally, physically and emotionally, stretching their imaginations and engaging with the world around them, all while having fun and creating rich memories.
“We can’t wait to welcome families and school groups to kick off what will be a fantastic summer of play.”
Award-winning TouchWood Play is the team behind the playful design, which will be made from natural and sustainable materials at its core.
This includes robust robinia, larch and living willow alongside locally quarried stone, cork and recycled fabric and nets.
The result will be an innovative play experience that melds harmoniously with its natural surroundings.
The fun has already begun through community build and interactive play workshops hosted by TouchWood Play at the Eden site.
Families have been taking part in the early design and testing stages, learning about the traditional craftsmanship and pioneering technology that will be used.
Learning about how wood grows and what makes one timber different to another as well as sharing invaluable feedback and ideas is helping shape the plans for this exciting new play area.
The grand unveiling is expected to take place in time for the school summer holidays, with pre-opening exclusive sessions to be revealed in due course for Eden Project Members’ and locals’ pass holders, in what will be a sensational summer of play.
Nature’s Playground will be included in the price of admission to Eden, and will be pre-bookable online from Thursday 27 April (with a Members’ Priority Booking window opening from Tuesday 25 April).
Keep up to date on the progress of Nature’s Playground and hear about exclusive preview events by signing up to Eden’s newsletter at www.edenproject.com
