Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Abi Smillie

Prince Charles opens new adventure playpark at Cumnock's Dumfries House

A new adventure woodland playpark has opened at Cumnock’s Dumfries House – and it hopes to encourage outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Kids and adults alike are keen to get a slice of the fun, as demonstrated by HRH Prince Charles who enjoyed crossing a rope bridge as he officially opened the 300sq. m attraction.

The playpark, which utilises the estate’s existing wooded landscape, features a central play tower, racing slides, rope bridges, educational elements and a wooden finger maze, which is a scaled-down replica of the maze at Dumfries House.

The outdoor facility, designed by Creating Adventurous Places, aims to champion the benefits of nature-based play and learning, which The Prince’s Foundation’s are committed to.

HRH Prince Charles officially opened the playpark (Iain Brown)

It will provide local children and visitors with the opportunity to have fun while reaping the physical and mental benefits that come with engaging with nature.

The racing slides (Iain Brown)

Muirkirk Primary pupils were among the first to test out the new attraction, alongside The Prince of Wales who popped along to give a royal seal of approval.

The large central play tower is made from sustainably-sourced English chestnut (Iain Brown)
The Adventure Playpark is free for families and visitors to enjoy (Iain Brown)

Gordon Neil, executive director of The Prince’s Foundation, said: “Encouraging young people to engage with, and learn from, nature is at the heart of everything we do as a charity.

“We are delighted to expand the range of nature-based activities available to estate visitors with the opening of our new Adventure Playground and are very much looking forward to seeing families enjoy it.”

Muirkirk Primary pupils try out the new facility with Prince Charles (Iain Brown)

There is no charge for families to enjoy the new playpark, which is open 365 days a year.

Construction of the playpark has been supported by a number of funders who support projects that meet environmental objectives including EB Scotland.

Thousands of school children in Scotland benefit from nature-based workshops run by The Prince’s Foundation at Dumfries House every year, where they spend a day out of the classroom doing educational outdoor activities such as cultivating and harvesting vegetables in the estate’s Kauffman Education Garden, learning about sustainable farming practises and rare breed animals at Valentin’s Education Farm.

Don't miss the latest Ayrshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter here

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.