The wait for the newest woodland attraction at the Helmingham Estate is nearing its end, but one local student has already left a permanent mark on the project.
After a county-wide search for creative talent, the winners of the Guildenacre playground design competition have been officially revealed.
The initiative invited primary school pupils across Suffolk to envision their own play environments, inspired by the natural world and local wildlife. While the competition drew over 50 entries from various schools, the judging panel ultimately identified a standout submission that captured the spirit of the upcoming development.
Noah Richards, a Year 3 pupil at Stonham Aspal CEVA Primary School, was named the overall winner for his entry titled “The Eagle Eye Adventure Play Area.” His submission included a detailed scaled model of a bird’s habitat, which the judges noted for its impressive build quality and imaginative scope. The proposed design features a variety of interactive elements, including a bird-watching tower, a rope bridge, a bird’s nest basketball area, and a helter skelter.
Young talent
The judging panel included Edward and Sophie Tollemache, who serve as custodians of Helmingham Hall and are the co-founders of Guildenacre. The competition was designed to encourage children to explore concepts of engineering and design by focusing on the habitats of guardian animals.
Edward Tollemache expressed his appreciation for the standard of the submissions received during the process. He noted that the panel was particularly impressed by the attention to detail and the creative thought evident in the models. He confirmed that the estate would be delighted to exhibit the winning model in the renovated Grade II listed Wades Barn, situated near the entrance to the new attraction.
As a reward for the school’s success, Noah Richards and his classmates in Birch Class will receive an exclusive preview of Guildenacre this summer. They will be the first children to experience the finished playground before it officially opens to the general public.
Rebecca Edwards, the Key Stage Two coordinator at Stonham Aspal CEVA Primary School, highlighted the educational value of the project. She noted that the competition provided students with a practical opportunity to apply design and communication skills to a project with a tangible outcome beyond the classroom setting.
Engaging play
The broader Guildenacre project is situated within a four-acre woodland area on the Helmingham Estate. The site is being developed by CAP.CO (Creating Adventurous Places), a firm known for producing bespoke, handcrafted play environments. The attraction will feature four distinct themed areas, each focused on a specific guardian animal and its habitat. These areas will incorporate a range of physical challenges, including climbing walls, zip lines, balance beams, and tunnels.
In addition to the play structures, the development includes a new car park and modest facilities for refreshments and retail. An exhibition showcasing selected entries from the design competition will be available for visitors to view at Wades Barn.
Guildenacre is scheduled to open this summer, adding a new dimension to the historic 16th-century Helmingham Hall estate, which is already known for its Grade I listed gardens and 400-acre deer park.
