Playground designers, CAP.Co, have been retained by Raby Castle in County Durham, to create an enchanting children’s adventure play area inside the castle grounds.
The project is part of a wider development that promises to attract new visitors to the area and create outstanding recreation for the local community.
The playground has been exclusively designed for Raby by CAP.Co – and is the latest project in a string of high-profile installations, designed and built by its specialist team.
The bespoke and inclusive playground features a fully accessible boardwalk through Raby’s Christmas Tree Plantation, opening a previously inaccessible part of the grounds, as well as three-storey play towers, high-level walkways, tunnels and climbing walls, along with a number of ground-level play trails and slides.
The new attraction also has a purpose-built area for toddlers, with mini turrets and lookout decks – conveniently located next to the new split-level café.
Construction of the playground has also been carefully managed to cause minimal disruption to the natural surroundings of the Christmas Tree plantation, in order to preserve habitats and ensure ancient trees are un-damaged during the build.
CAP.Co’s managing director, Simon Egan, said: “We’re thrilled to be working on bringing this new installation to life, which was designed in collaboration with the wider team at Raby over the last two years.
“This carefully considered, new addition to Raby Castle, has been inspired by the historical architectural elements within the castle such as The Neville Gateway, but also the many stories associated with the estate, particularly the Rising of The North.”
Nestled in a stunning woodland within the grounds of Raby Castle, this new adventure play area will be an exciting mix of challenge, discovery and intrigue for all its visitors, both the young and the young at heart.
The design also ensures that visitors can sample the stunning views of the castle and grounds from the turrets and towers, while adventurers of all ages wind their way through the wonderful world of woodland play at Raby.
The wider scheme at Raby Castle, known as The Rising, will include the significant restoration and renovation of several historical buildings on the estate, the creation of a new café and events space as well as a new visitor hub and landscaped communal areas. Work on the two-year construction programme started with the new 300-space car park to service the new attractions.
Raby Estate owners, Lord and Lady Barnard, have announced a suite of key consultant hires to bring The Rising to fruition, alongside the creation of over 40 new jobs at Raby Castle itself.
Lord Barnard said: “We have now entered the construction phase of this ambitious project, which will deliver wonderful spaces for families to enjoy and to further establish Raby Castle as a must-see visitor destination. Working with CAP.Co will help us to create a truly magical space for children and families to enjoy.
“We have spent the last four years planning the development, which promises to put Raby Castle on the map for visitors to the area, as well as providing a beautiful place for the local community to enjoy, all year round.”
The new adventure playground’s build schedule is expected to last a further four months, opening at Easter 2022.