Cotswold Wildlife Park reopens Skymaze adventure playground

The relaunch comes just in time for the Easter holidays and coincides with the park’s 56th anniversary.

After being fully modernised, the playground now offers an immersive experience across three levels of interconnected treehouses.

The project was delivered in partnership with playground specialists CAP.CO and the park’s own grounds team.

Paul Edwards, head of grounds at Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens, said: “As you may know, the original Skymaze was built 12 years ago.

“After a decade of immense popularity and heavy use, the structure had begun to deteriorate.

“The decision was made to completely rebuild it from the ground up, designing a future-proof version of the much-loved adventure playground.

“Over the next few months, with invaluable consultation with RoSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents), we collaborated closely with CAP.CO – the company that constructed our original Skymaze – and plans started to emerge.”

Skymaze features wooden walkways, rope bridges, crawl tunnels, slides, climbing walls, and a ‘wonky walkway’.

The revamped playground is the biggest investment the park has made in its play facilities.

Mr Edwards said: “With the designs finalised, we scheduled the demolition of the old Skymaze and reconstruction of the new one to take place during winter, ensuring the project would be completed in time for the Easter holidays – a huge undertaking.

“Disposing of the old Skymaze was a mammoth task on its own.

“Our grounds team, alongside CAP.CO, worked tirelessly to complete the work in time.”

The new Skymaze is constructed using more than 600 pieces of timber and 120 Robinia structural poles, each set one metre deep in concrete.

Mr Edwards said: “After months of intense building, the new Skymaze is now complete.

“We are sure the updated version will be enjoyed for many years to come.

“We hope you enjoy the new upgrade.”

The playground, on the same site since the park opened in 1970, first featured a slide bought from Burford Primary School.

Through the 1970s and 1980s, a handmade Trojan Horse was the main attraction, while the original swings remain in place, though only the chains and seats have been replaced.

The highest point of the new Skymaze is a viewing platform more than 20ft high.

For younger visitors, the nearby Mini-Manor offers slides, a mini zip wire, and interconnected treehouses.

Cotswold Wildlife Park is open daily from 10am, with last admission at 4pm.

During winter, last entry is at 3pm.