Huge adventure playground inspired by Kate Middleton is ready for opening in the Easter holidays 


A huge adventure playground inspired by Kate Middleton and built on the Queen’s Royal Sandringham Estate in Norfolk is ready for opening in the Easter holidays.

Kate’s Back to Nature garden at the last Chelsea Flower Show featured a rope swing, tepee hideaway and a tree house to encourage children to immerse themselves in nature.

Now the Sandringham Estate, which attracts 500,000 visitors a year, has put the finishing touches on an adventure playground modelled on famous local landmarks – and it is set to open on April 12.

Phase one of the spectacular new woodland playground, which has replaced an existing smaller play area, is now complete with an array of stunning treehouses and walkways.

A huge adventure playground inspired by Kate Middleton and built on the Queen’s Royal Sandringham Estate in Norfolk is ready for opening in the Easter holidays. Pictured, the Appleton Water Tower feature at the new playground at Sandringham House

A huge adventure playground inspired by Kate Middleton and built on the Queen’s Royal Sandringham Estate in Norfolk is ready for opening in the Easter holidays. Pictured, the Appleton Water Tower feature at the new playground at Sandringham House

The Sandringham Estate, which attracts 500,000 visitors a year, has put the finishing touches on an adventure playground (pictured, the rope bridge) modelled on famous local landmarks - and it is set to open on April 12

The Sandringham Estate, which attracts 500,000 visitors a year, has put the finishing touches on an adventure playground (pictured, the rope bridge) modelled on famous local landmarks – and it is set to open on April 12

The centre piece of the playground is the eight-metre tall Appleton Water Tower, inspired by the Victorian landmark, which was built in 1877 to improve the quality of the water supply to Sandringham House. Pictured, swings and the Appleton Water Tower play

The centre piece of the playground is the eight-metre tall Appleton Water Tower, inspired by the Victorian landmark, which was built in 1877 to improve the quality of the water supply to Sandringham House. Pictured, swings and the Appleton Water Tower play

Phase one of the spectacular new woodland playground (pictured), which has replaced an existing smaller play area, is now complete with an array of stunning treehouses and walkways

Phase one of the spectacular new woodland playground (pictured), which has replaced an existing smaller play area, is now complete with an array of stunning treehouses and walkways 

Queen Elizabeth II is shown around the 'Back to Nature' by the designer, The Duchess of Cambridge during their visit to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, London on Monday May 20, 2019

Queen Elizabeth II is shown around the ‘Back to Nature’ by the designer, The Duchess of Cambridge during their visit to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, London on Monday May 20, 2019

The centre piece of the playground is the eight-metre tall Appleton Water Tower, inspired by the Victorian landmark, which was built in 1877 to improve the quality of the water supply to Sandringham House.

The tall treehouse features a 14-metre long tube slide, winding spiral staircase, water play tables with pumps at the top and bottom and talking tubes so kids can communicate.

The play area also includes a special space for toddlers with two houses connected by a bridge, high walkways, a zip wire and a springy wooden assault course.

A Sandringham Estate spokesman said today: ‘The ongoing development of a new Children’s Play Area at Sandringham forms part of improvement works across the Estate, with a view to offering better facilities for visitors, whilst maintaining the landscape and environment for all to enjoy.’

Local landmarks used as inspiration include Grade II-listed St Mary Magdalene Church, which the Royal Family attend on Christmas Day, and the ruined church of St Mary, which stands near the village of West Newton. Pictured: Sketch showing the layout of the playground

Local landmarks used as inspiration include Grade II-listed St Mary Magdalene Church, which the Royal Family attend on Christmas Day, and the ruined church of St Mary, which stands near the village of West Newton. Pictured: Sketch showing the layout of the playground

The Cambridges spend holidays at Anmer Hall, their house on the estate, and George, seven, Charlotte, five, and two-year-old Louis could become regular visitors to the revamped playground. Pictured, Sandringham House in Norfolk

The Cambridges spend holidays at Anmer Hall, their house on the estate, and George, seven, Charlotte, five, and two-year-old Louis could become regular visitors to the revamped playground. Pictured, Sandringham House in Norfolk

The play area also includes a special space for toddlers with two houses connected by a bridge, high walkways, a zip wire and a springy wooden assault course (pictured)

The play area also includes a special space for toddlers with two houses connected by a bridge, high walkways, a zip wire and a springy wooden assault course (pictured)

The tall treehouse (pictured) features a 14-metre long tube slide, winding spiral staircase, water play tables with pumps at the top and bottom and talking tubes so kids can communicate

The tall treehouse (pictured) features a 14-metre long tube slide, winding spiral staircase, water play tables with pumps at the top and bottom and talking tubes so kids can communicate

The playground is replacing a smaller play area and it will be a popular stop-off for the many children among the 500,000 people who visit the Sandringham Estate each year. Pictured: The Appleton water tower play feature at the new playground at Sandringham House

The playground is replacing a smaller play area and it will be a popular stop-off for the many children among the 500,000 people who visit the Sandringham Estate each year. Pictured: The Appleton water tower play feature at the new playground at Sandringham House

Creating Adventurous Spaces Ltd, who have designed the playground, described the huge water tower (pictured) as 'a ground-breaking new play feature fit for the Sandringham Estate'

Creating Adventurous Spaces Ltd, who have designed the playground, described the huge water tower (pictured) as ‘a ground-breaking new play feature fit for the Sandringham Estate’ 

Later phases will involve additions to the central play area, also based on local landmarks.

They include the grade-two listed St Mary Magdalene Church, which the Queen and Royal family attend at Christmas, and the ruined Church of St Mary, which stands near the village of West Newton.

There are also plans for a secret enclosed play structure, inspired by Queen Alexandra’s Nest, a summerhouse built in 1913 on the rockery overlooking the lake on the Royal estate.

Creating Adventurous Spaces Ltd, who have designed the playground, described the huge water tower as ‘a ground-breaking new play feature fit for the Sandringham Estate.’ 

The impressive structure based on local landmarks was inspired by Kate Middleton’s garden at the 2019 Chelsea Flower Show

The impressive structure based on local landmarks was inspired by Kate Middleton’s garden at the 2019 Chelsea Flower Show

The plans for the new adventure playground (pictured) at Sandringham House which is now ready for opening on April 12th

The plans for the new adventure playground (pictured) at Sandringham House which is now ready for opening on April 12th 

The planning application was submitted on behalf of the Queen in October and was approved the following month. It was closed for works to begin in December. Pictured, the plans for the playground

The planning application was submitted on behalf of the Queen in October and was approved the following month. It was closed for works to begin in December. Pictured, the plans for the playground

Pictured, the plans for new playground at Sandringham House which is now ready for opening on April 12th

Pictured, the plans for new playground at Sandringham House which is now ready for opening on April 12th

The planning application was submitted on behalf of the Queen in October and was approved the following month. It was closed for works to begin in December.

As part of the application the Queen was advised to plant bat-friendly flowers around the new playground.

Her Majesty was told the site would benefit from a wildflower planting scheme to increase the foraging opportunities for bats and pollinators.

She was also advised to install three bat boxes and two bird boxes on trees near the huge play area.

The Cambridges spend holidays at Anmer Hall, their house on the estate, and George, seven, Charlotte, five, and two-year-old Louis could become regular visitors to the revamped playground.  

A play area is modelled on Appleton St Mary Church ruins near Sandringham,Norfolk. the church will be built later this year for the new Sandringham playground which opens on April 12th

A play area modelled on the church will be built for the new Sandringham playground which opens on April 12th. Pictured, Appleton St Mary Church ruins near Sandringham, Norfolk 

Later phases will involve additions to the central play area, also based on local landmarks. They include the grade-two listed St Mary Magdalene Church, which the Queen and Royal family attend at Christmas, and the ruined Church of St Mary, which stands near the village of West Newton. Pictured, St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk

Later phases will involve additions to the central play area, also based on local landmarks. They include the grade-two listed St Mary Magdalene Church, which the Queen and Royal family attend at Christmas, and the ruined Church of St Mary, which stands near the village of West Newton. Pictured, St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk

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