Revamped park play area opens

Following a revamp, the play area at Old Lodge in Dyrham Park near Bath is open again.

The popular family spot, in the middle of 270 acres of National Trust parkland, has remained closed since the start of the pandemic but is now open with new equipment, a cafe, an ice cream kiosk and toilets.

Youngsters can now use stepping logs, play kitchens, balance beams and a log tunnel, as well as a mixture of garden games.

“The play facilities are subtly sectioned into ages,” said experience manager Ann Fiddler. “They offer a brilliant opportunity for children and young people to play outdoors in a natural setting.

“With improved toilets and a great new cafe and ice cream kiosk created in the original historic farm buildings, we think it’s a win-win.

“This is the first phase of play equipment with more coming in the autumn,” she said.

As well as the new facilities at Old Lodge, there are activities daily at Dyrham Park until Sunday, September 4.

Nature explorer sessions are also running twice daily on Tuesdays and Thursdays until the end of August.