Cornwall’s Eden Project is opening a new play area this weekend (8 July), offering nature-themed slides, swings, ladders and water play for younger visitors.
One of the largest outdoor play areas in South West England, Nature’s Playground features a nine-metre Tree of Life tower for children to crawl and climb.
At the top of the tree, a viewing nest provides panoramic views of the gardens and biomes. To get back down, children can take a corkscrew tube slide.
Covering nearly 500 square metres and built using sustainable materials and methods, the sensory and accessible play area also features a ‘wood wide web’ and a miniature clay pit.
“We believe outdoor play is vital for children’s development, fostering their creativity, physical fitness and connection to the natural world,” said Eden’s chief marketing officer, Emma Evans.
Nature’s Playground, she added, has been “meticulously designed and crafted to blend adventure, nature and imagination”.
The new play area will be a key feature in Eden’s Summer of Play event, which begins on 22 July and runs through 3 September.
There will be family-friendly outdoor games, challenges and activities across the site, including a colourful den-building village.
Tree of Life tower for crawling and climbing
Last month, the Eden Project launched a deep geothermal heating system, said to be the UK’s first operational deep geothermal project to come online in 37 years.
“We are developing new ways to grow and new ways to encourage people to think differently about plants and the planet,” said Rob Chatwin, Eden‘s group CEO.
“Geothermal is the sleeping giant of renewables: lying not under our noses, but literally under our feet,” added Sir Tim Smit, co-founder of the Eden Project.
Eden Project International is creating a series of green attractions across the globe, from the UK to Australia to South America.
