Children are going to have a great time in Poole Park this year.

The Cygnet play area, next to Ark Café, which has been transformed into the ‘Plant Explorer’s Playground’ opened on 11 March and the larger Jungle Adventure Playground’ – on the site of the former Westfield play area – is due to open in the week commencing 13 April.

Designed by play and sport consultancy Jupiter Play as part of the Poole Park Life project, the theme of both playgrounds is that of Victorian plant collectors travelling the world and discovering new plant species to bring back to England, real-life examples of which can be found within Poole Park itself.

Funded by the Parks for People restoration programme, run by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund with additional funds from Canford Environmental Limited (with support from The Parks Foundation), the playgrounds will provide a wide range of equipment, sensory play and room to explore for children, young people and their families of all ages.

Cllr Mark Anderson, portfolio holder for Environment, Cleansing and Waste, said,

“Our green spaces have played an important part in our lives during the pandemic, with even more people appreciating their value. So it’s particularly good to see this key aspect of the Poole Park Life project come to fruition at this point in time. I hope children love the Plant Explorer’s Playground and I’m looking forward to seeing how the Jungle Adventure turns out. I’ll be bringing my nieces and nephew along as soon as COVID-19 allows.

“Victorian plant collectors would have faced many adventures during their travels and we hope that the new playgrounds will give visitors the freedom to embark on their own!”

BCP Council says government restrictions remain in place and playgrounds should be used for exercise/recreation only and not for socialising. People should not travel outside their local area and social distancing should be observed at all times. The council hopes to have an official launch event for both play areas later this year.