The Beaulieu Estate in the New Forest National Park will open a new adventure play area at its Beaulieu attraction this month and complete the first phase of its redevelopment of its Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour on the Beaulieu River, after securing multimillion-pound funding from NatWest.
Opening to visitors on 15th March, the £500,000 adventure play area Little Beaulieu draws on the heritage of the Montagu ancestral home of Palace House and 13th century Beaulieu Abbey in its design.
Complete with turrets and a clock tower, Little Beaulieu has a zip wire, climbing wall, maze room and a road, complete with wooden cars to reflect the motor collection in the museum. An area for younger children has been included, with a large sand pit and wooden play bus.
The finance from NatWest has also supported the completion of the first phase of the £2 million redevelopment of award-winning Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour. A natural and sheltered haven for boats, the reconfiguration has created bigger berths and more convenient walk-ashore pontoons, which can now be reserved, as well as improved facilities. A further release of larger berths will be available on completion of the second phase in March 2021.
Managed by Beaulieu Enterprises Ltd, Beaulieu is a family visitor attraction in the heart of the New Forest National Park. It has been in the ownership of the Montagu family for over four centuries and Edward, Lord Montagu first opened his home, Palace House, to visitors in 1952, making it one of the first stately homes to admit visitors.
The National Motor Museum officially opened on the estate in 1972, governed by the National Motor Museum Trust, and features a world-famous collection of over 280 vehicles which tell the story of motoring.
Phil Johnson, Financial Director at Beaulieu Enterprises, said: “The support from NatWest has enabled us to provide new and improved facilities at Beaulieu and at Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour. We look forward to officially welcoming visitors to Little Beaulieu and new berth holders at the river as we continue to reconfigure and expand the marina.”
Danny Haywood, Relationship Director at NatWest, said: “Beaulieu is a top tourist attraction in the New Forest area, and we are proud to support its ambitious expansion plans. Little Beaulieu offers another fun activity for families while reflecting architectural features of the estate and we have no doubt that it will be a hit with visitors following its official launch.”
