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Ideas and Insights
A magnificent new chapter has begun at the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground: the arrival of a handmade 17‑metre‑wide wooden Galleon, expertly crafted in the Bavarian Alps and delivered through a remarkable cross‑continental journey.
As the late winter sunshine broke through the clouds, we welcomed this extraordinary ship to its new home in Kensington Gardens where it will proudly take centre stage when the playground reopens in summer 2026.
Image credit: The Royal Parks 2026
A Journey of Craft and Care
The new Galleon began its voyage in Frasdorf, Germany, where it was handcrafted from slow‑grown mountain larch at the workshops of Richter Spielgeräte. From Frasdorf, the ship travelled to Rotterdam, crossed the North Sea to Tilbury, and finally made the last leg of its journey by road to Kensington Gardens. Upon arrival, two enormous halves of the ship were carefully lifted by crane and joined together on site—a spectacular moment marking the start of the installation.
Honouring the Past, Building the Future
Timberplay is incredibly proud to have been part of the original playground project in 2000, and even prouder to return for this once‑in‑a‑generation renewal. Working again with Richter Spielgeräte, who designed and produced both the original and new Galleon, makes this moment especially significant.
The playground’s £3 million renewal, also includes a new Treehouse, a redesigned water play area, and a refreshed under‑threes area. Together, these elements reaffirm the playground’s legacy as a global benchmark for joyful, imaginative, inclusive play.
As installation continues over the coming months, we’re thrilled to see the Galleon take shape and even more excited for the day children can once again set sail, create stories, and embark on adventures aboard this extraordinary ship.
To read more about the arrival of the Galleon, you can find BBC coverage here: BBC News Article
Image credit: The Royal Parks 2026
Andy Williams, park manager for Kensington Gardens, said he was "delighted" with the galleon, adding:
"Children can be the captain of their own ship and let their imaginations soar when the playground reopens."