The Bishop's Palace in Wells could soon see an expansion of its children's play area, with plans for a new interactive water feature set to be decided this week.

The Palace Trust has submitted proposals for a bespoke new space called The Rain Tree, which would introduce a sculptural installation made of lightweight metal designed to create a fine spray of water.

The design also includes three timber uprights supporting a network of wires, where climbing plants will form a living canopy.

Encircling the water tree would be a series of babbling boulders, expelling small jets of water into a shallow paddling pool. The area will be laid with cobblestones to complement the historic surroundings.

In its Design and Access Statement, the Palace Trust highlighted the importance of the expansion, stating that improving the education and play offering is crucial to attracting more young visitors and families.

If approved, the new play area would be an addition to the Dragon's Lair, which was installed in 2016.

The full plans can be viewed and commented on via the Somerset Council planning portal using reference 2025/0176/FUL.