Wild Wood Adventure Playground now open at Waddesdon Manor

Leighton Buzzard Guides

Wild Wood Adventure Playground now open at Waddesdon Manor


After 10 months in the making, Waddesdon Manor’s spectacular new Wild Wood Adventure Playground is now open for families to enjoy, just in time for the school holidays (from Saturday 1 August 2026).

Nestled within woodland and inspired by the historic Manor, the new playground combines towers, tunnels, slides and swings with a series of imaginative play experiences designed for children aged 2 to 12.

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Created by natural playground specialists TouchWood Play, who conducted a series of workshops with local community groups and schools in Buckinghamshire to help discover what children and families want to have in the new experience, the project has used more than 17 tonnes of sustainably sourced wood from five different tree species to create a one-of-a-kind adventure space.


Visitors can explore standout features including the Lost Mansion, an imaginative structure inspired by the Manor, the Plaviary treetop walkway – its name a direct reference to the famous and zoologically important Aviary in the Manor’s grounds, one of Europe’s smallest registered zoos. They will also encounter a large wooden mynah bird (inspired by the Rothschild mynah, or Leucopsar rothschildi – which can be seen for real in the Aviary) and other Waddesdon Manor related animals, including a stick insect and Poupon, Waddesdon Manor’s founder Baron Ferdinand’s beloved and renowned poodle of that name. Shaped by families for families, the playground has been designed to encourage adventure, imagination and connection with nature.

It has been funded by The Rothschild Foundation in recognition of the huge importance of family visits to
Waddesdon Manor. Joe Cooper, founder of TouchWood Play, says

“When people use playgrounds nowadays, it’s no longer just
a certain age group, it’s actually all ages and all abilities who seek to engage in play. We focused closely on
providing a range of different entry-level experiences in play throughout the site, so the whole family can
enjoy the adventure together.”


Pippa Shirley, Director of Waddesdon Manor says:

“I am so excited the new playground is now open, bringing the garden and woodlands to life for children and families. TouchWood have been such collaborative partners and have helped us create something which could only be found here at the Manor – reflecting so much that is distinctive about our wonderful site. It’s also been completely inspiring to be part
of a project specifically designed for and by our young visitors to bring them here and encourage them to play, to challenge themselves and simply to be in nature. We all know, in our technologically dominated world, how important these moments are, and how important it is for families to connect and make their own unique memories. We’re all incredibly proud that
the Wild Wood can play a part in that.”

In addition to the new playground, families will be able to enjoy a new woodland trail along Miss Alice’s
Drive, as well as picnic areas, cafés and a wealth of family events throughout the summer.

Entry to Wild Wood Adventure Playground is included with a Grounds Entry ticket and is free to National
Trust members.

For full details of everything that Waddesdon Manor has to offer for families, garden lovers and art fans –
please visit the website.

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