The finishing touches are being put on the Queen’s new adventure playground at Sandringham ahead of its opening next month.
The play area, which is due to welcome visitors on April 12, is inspired by Kate Middleton’s garden at the 2019 Chelsea Flower Show – and is being built for visitors at the Queen’s Sandringham estate.
The centrepiece is a 26ft tall replica of the Appleton water tower, a nearby Victorian landmark built in 1877 to improve the quality of water to Sandringham House.
The structure, which is nearly complete, has a 46ft long tube slide, a winding spiral staircase, water play tables and talking tubes so that the children can chat to each other.
New photos reveal decorative cladding has been added to the tower. The ground is now being landscaped and it appears a set of swings will soon be added nearby ahead of the first phase being revealed.
Almost ready! The finishing touches are being put on the Queen’s new adventure playground at Sandringham ahead of its opening next month. The centrepiece (above) is a 26ft tall replica of the Appleton water tower, a nearby Victorian landmark
Adventure wonderland: Walkways through the trees will provide plenty of fun for children. There is also a wet play area, a zip wire, swings and picnic tables. Toddlers are catered for by two houses connected by a bridge
Back to nature: The play area, which is due to welcome visitors on April 12, is inspired by Kate Middleton ’s garden at the 2019 Chelsea Flower Show – and is being built for visitors at the Queen’s Sandringham estate
It is one of several buildings at the spectacular playground are inspired by local landmarks.
They include Grade II-listed St Mary Magdalene Church, which the Royal Family attend on Christmas Day, and the ruined church of St Mary, which stands near the village of West Newton.
And a secret enclosed play area due to be built is a nod to Queen Alexandra’s Nest, a summerhouse built in 1912 on a rockery overlooking the Norfolk estate.
There is also a wet play area, a zip wire, swings and picnic tables. Toddlers are catered for by two houses connected by a bridge.
The playground is replacing a smaller play area and it will be a popular stop-off for the many children among the 500,000 people who visit the Sandringham Estate each year.
The Duchess of Cambridge’s Back to Nature garden entry to the Chelsea Flower Show had a swing rope, tepee hideaway and a tree house to encourage children to immerse themselves in nature.
Plans underway: A sign showing an artist’s impression of the new adventure wonderland, which is set to welcome visitors
King of the castle! The structure, which is nearly complete, has a 46ft long tube slide, a winding spiral staircase, water play tables and talking tubes so that the children can chat to each other
More to discover: A secret enclosed play area due to be built is a nod to Queen Alexandra’s Nest (pictured), a summerhouse built in 1912 on a rockery overlooking the Norfolk estate.
And they will certainly be able to do that at the play area it inspired, which is set among towering trees in a densely wooded area.
A wildflower planting scheme is also in place, with bat-friendly plants and flowers such as ivy, bramble, cherry pie, soapwort and evening primrose being grown to encourage foraging by the mammals and pollinators.
Three bat boxes and two bird boxes will be attached to trees.
An ecological appraisal for the playground stated that the National Planning Policy Framework required an improvement in biodiversity before enhancements to the estate could be approved.
Inspiration: The Duchess of Cambridge’s Back to Nature garden entry to the Chelsea Flower Show had a swing rope, tepee hideaway and a tree house to encourage children to immerse themselves in nature. Pictured, Her Majesty at the garden
The Cambridges spend holidays at Anmer Hall, their house on the estate, and George, seven, Charlotte, five, and two-year-old Louis could become regular visitors to the revamped playground.
Creating Adventurous Spaces Ltd, who designed the project, described the tower as a ‘ground-breaking new play feature fit for the Sandringham Estate’.
The planning application was submitted on behalf of the Queen in October and was approved the following month.
Anyone paying admission to Sandringham House or gardens can park for free, and season tickets are also available. The gardens are due to reopen on April 12 and the house will be open again from May 29.
Family friendly: The playground is replacing a smaller play area and it will be a popular stop-off for the many children among the 500,000 people who visit the Sandringham Estate each year. Pictured, Sandringham House