Wells splash play zone to open in Dragon’s Lair

By Laura Linham 17th Mar 2026

Local News by Laura Linham 17th Mar 2026

A new splash play zone for children is set to open at The Bishop's Palace and Gardens in Wells, giving a boost to the popular Dragon's Lair play area. The water-themed attraction is due to be launched during a free open day at the Palace on Sunday, 26 April 2026.

The Dragon's Lair is already a well-used family area within the Palace grounds, with play features inspired by local folklore and the site's historic setting. Existing equipment includes a carved dragon, a dragon's wings climbing structure, a waterwheel and structural tree pods designed to encourage imaginative and active outdoor play.

The new Splash Play Zone will build on that theme, with water at the heart of the design. The Palace said the space will include a raining water tree producing a light spray, a living canopy of plants, babbling boulders with small jets of water and a shallow paddling pool. A bat house and bird box are also due to be added to encourage biodiversity.

The Palace Trust said the installation has planning approval and will also include a new water tank, pump and pipework so spring water from the well pools can be used to supply the splash area. The project has been designed to tie in with the site's environmental aims as well as the Palace's long-standing connection with water.

Palace chief executive Merryn Kidd said younger visitors were "the audience of the future" and said the new feature would enhance a part of the site that is already popular with families. She said the design also reflects one of the Palace's key themes — the wells that gave the city its name — while offering children somewhere to cool off during hotter summer weather.

The Palace has appointed Green Play Project, a specialist in handmade play spaces, to help co-create the new zone. The splash play area forms the headline attraction at the open day, which will also include tours, arts and crafts, garden talks, lawn games, family trails, face painting and balloon artists.

Entry to the Palace, gardens and activities on the day will be free. Full details of the open day are available on The Bishop's Palace website.