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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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