CAP.Co, the adventure play specialist, is celebrating the opening of a new £3.6 million playground at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, one of the UK’s most iconic stately houses. Highlights of the new play experience include giant carrot tops peeking from the ground and an oversized wooden head gardener’s chair, and more.
The Lost Garden adventure playground can be found within Blenheim Palace‘s Walled Gardens and has been designed to offer a magical experience for visitors both young and old, helping guests to create shared memories as they explore the twists and turns on offer.
A sensory experience
Measuring nearly 1.4 acres and featuring a fun secret entrance, The Lost Garden took two years to create. Now that it is open to the public, it is expected to bring in thousands of visitors each year.
Simon Egan, head of project development at CAP.Co says: “The inspiration for this adventure play area came directly from its surroundings. The kitchen garden, the concealed entrance and the vast expanse of historical walls and original features – not to mention the iconic Capability Brown landscape that Blenheim Palace is well-known for.
“But as well as adventure and firing up imaginations, we were also aware of the need for a space which offered some tranquillity and quiet time. The site has therefore been zoned into six main areas – arrival; discover; rest and play, explore and adventure, journey through; and gather and reflect – which all offer something completely different and have been designed to stimulate the senses.”
Taking inspiration from the landscape
The adventure play area is centred around reshaping the landforms within the Walled Garden and reflecting the picturesque lakes within Blenheim Palace’s landscape, in keeping with Capability Brown’s approach to landscape design. There is a flow of water through the garden from the historic fountain and there will be unique discoveries to be made in each of the landscapes, as well as various characters that show up for creative play.
In order to create a sense of intrigue, suspense, discovery and adventure for young guests, The Lost Garden features paddling streams, sensory water play and a mysterious mirror lake.
Heather Carter, managing director – visitor attraction at Blenheim Palace adds:
“The brief was to create a play area which reflects the beauty and history of Blenheim Palace – which sits in its landscape, but which mirrors the intrigue and mystery and constant discoveries of this very special place.
“CAP.Co has a reputation for accentuating the wonderful features found in the landscape and taking inspiration from everything around them. The Lost Garden is a space that will create memories for children and their friends and families for generations to come.”
The Lost Garden opened on 1 April 2023.
CAP.Co has also recently worked on a play project at Eureka’s latest museum in Merseyside, UK, creating a unique 30-foot-tall climbing tree for visitors.
