"PA Media The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground in central London is set to reopen this summer with a new "full-scale" wooden ship for children to enjoy. The Kensington Gardens attraction closed for refurbishment works in autumn 2025. Situated next to Princess Diana's former home, Kensington Palace, it has an average of one million visitors per year, making it the UK's most visited playground, according to the Royal Parks."
"Getty Images The new galleon was constructed in the village of Frasdorf, Germany, by the same designers who produced the original Peter Pan-themed galleon for the playground's opening in 2000. Andy Williams, park manager for Kensington Gardens, said the galleon "really reaches to children's imaginations, it lets them set free in a safe space". He added the new playground was "in the spirit of Princess Diana, we've kept faithful to that"."
"The new structure is partially built out of mountain larch wood from sustainably managed forests in the Bavarian Alps. The Royal Parks said the harsh alpine conditions result in extremely slow growth, making the timber stronger and naturally rot-resistant, negating the need for chemically treated wood. The new galleon is constructed over three levels and will replace the existing pirate ship. It will have wheelchair accessible spaces and includes an additional crow's nest and a double-storey stern, with a ship's wheel and a telescope."
The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens will reopen this summer with a new full-scale wooden galleon and upgraded play facilities. The playground closed for refurbishment in autumn 2025. It averages one million visitors annually, making it the UK's most visited playground. £3m is being spent on equipment replacement. The galleon was built in Frasdorf, Germany, from mountain larch sourced from sustainably managed Bavarian Alps forests, selected for strength and natural rot resistance. The three-level ship includes wheelchair-accessible spaces, an extra crow's nest, a double-storey stern, a ship's wheel and telescope. The site will also gain an updated treehouse, redesigned water play, a new under-three area, resurfaced paths, accessible routes and wheelchair-friendly picnic and raised play tables.
Read at www.bbc.com
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