Prince Charles

The project at Dumfries House near Cumnock will be an extension to an existing playground at the 2,000-acre estate and will include tree houses, rope bridges, a multilevel tower and racing slides.

The prince’s representatives said they wanted to provide more outdoor recreation to help reduce stress and help youngsters to develop creativity

Plans were submitted to East Ayrshire Council in March and have now been approved. No objections were received.

A design statement submitted to the local authority said: “The Prince’s Foundation are proposing to extend the [facility] so that children within the immediate and wider community can reap the benefits that outdoor recreation provides.

“Further benefits of outdoor play are known to be the encouragement of a healthy lifestyle and developing a sense of care for the environment.”

Planning officials said: “This proposal clearly has a high potential to deliver a facility which will be of benefit to the tourist facility of the estate, as well as [local] children. The lifestyle, health and economic benefit that could be delivered by this proposal is sufficient to allow it to be looked upon favourably.”