A British estate has launched a creative competition ahead of the opening of Guildenacre, a new woodland adventure playground.
To mark the development, the Stowmarket estate has launched a creative competition aimed at local primary school pupils, challenging them to step into the roles of professional designers and engineers.
Designing for the next generation
The competition asks students to draft playground concepts inspired by their favourite animals and their respective natural habitats. Creative entries might range from wooden waterways mimicking a beaver’s lodge to log piles designed to replicate a hedgehog’s nest. The winners of the contest will be granted an exclusive preview of the site, becoming the first children to experience Guildenacre before it officially opens to the public later this season.
To support the initiative, the award-winning playground design company Creating Adventurous Places (CAP.CO) has been visiting local primary schools to spark creative thinking. Pete Dean, known as ‘Poringland Pete’ at CAP.CO, shared his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating: “I was blown away by the amazing questions the children asked, their creative thinking and eagerness to get started on their own designs. The children who use and enjoy our playgrounds are our biggest critics – having their minds and input at the heart of what we do is very important to us”.
Ben Hemmings, headteacher at Stonham Aspal Primary School, noted that the project allows students to see how classroom work connects to real-world applications. The judging panel includes Edward and Sophie Tollemache, the custodians of Helmingham Hall and co-founders of the project.
Technical features of Guildenacre
The physical playground is set within a four-acre woodland area on the estate grounds. It will feature four distinct areas, each themed around a specific “guardian animal” habitat. The technical layout includes multi-level walkways, climbing walls, tunnels, and an adrenaline-fuelled zip line. Accessibility has been a key consideration in the master plan, with bark pathways designed for wheelchairs and pushchairs, alongside practical amenities like on-site refreshments and toilets located within the woods.
Edward Tollemache explained that the core aim of the project was to create a space for families to discover adventurous play in nature. Beyond the play areas, the development includes a new car park and retail facilities at the Grade II listed Wades Barn. CAP.CO, which specialises in hand-crafted, inclusive environments, has designed the space to be rooted in the local flora and fauna of the site. Guildenacre is due to open this summer.
