A New Natural Play Park For Groundwork’s Heritage Centre in the Derwent Valley

GROUNDWORK NE & CUMBRIA is installing a new natural play park at its Land of Oak & Iron, Heritage Centre at Winlaton Mill, in the Derwent Valley. This project has received £150,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Construction workers are on-site clearing the land in preparation for the play structures to be installed and the park to be opened and fully operational in time for the school summer holidays in July 2025.

The park has been sympathetically designed to be in keeping with its natural surroundings. Wood structures, including a climbing frame, swings, a roundabout and other play equipment, will be installed on turf instead of synthetic flooring to continue this natural landscaping.

The play park will add a new attraction to Groundwork NE & Cumbria’s existing heritage centre, which promotes the natural woodland, rare and iconic wildlife and the area’s hidden heritage of British sword making and world-leading iron and steel industries.

Visitors to the heritage centre were asked for their views on what should be added to the centre, and a children’s play park was the leading recommendation.

Commenting on the new play park, Chris Watson, Director of Land & Communities at Groundwork NE & Cumbria said: “We’d like to give a huge thanks to Gateshead Council for supporting us with the grant funding and helping to create a wonderful new adventure playground in the beautiful setting of the Derwent Valley. We host many wonderful events and activities at the centre, from seasonal children’s trails and school holiday activities to music events, creative workshops and heritage talks. This new natural play park will be an exciting addition, which we hope will attract more families, and allow us to host more family-focused activities in the safe environment of the heritage centre.”

Councillor John McElroy, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport at Gateshead Council said: “We are delighted to support the creation of an exciting new outdoor play area, which will improve access to safe and exciting play opportunities for children and to outdoor, green space for all the associated physical and mental health benefits this delivers. We can’t wait to see the park open this summer in time for the school summer holidays.”