Have your say on Erddig’s plans to expand its ‘Wolf’s Den’ play area!

A natural play area at a National Trust site in Wrexham could soon be expanded – with the public’s views needed to help shape future plans.

Wolf’s Den, located in the grounds of Erddig, was launched back in 2013 after a report carried out by the National Trust’s Natural Childhood found children were losing their connection to nature – with time spent outdoors halving in just one generation!

Over the past six years the natural play area complete with den building, rope swings, balancing beams and wooden carvings of wolves has seen thousands of families leaping and swinging into the woodland space next to the historic walled garden.

The play area has been so popular, the ground around the trees has been compacted, restricting their ability to draw in the nutrients they need to thrive and in turn restricting the Wolf’s Den opening times.

This has meant the team has been forced to close the natural play area for winter conservation several times, to allow the trees time and space to breathe.

Now the team are looking to expand the play area and are looking for feedback from members of the public over how this could take place.

One solution proposed would be to develop another natural play area in the woodland next to Wolf’s Den, so that there are two areas available to use and rotate. This would allow Erddig’s visitors to play naturally throughout the year.

The team has identified a potential space in the original historic pleasure ground designed by William Emes which runs next to the historic remains of the Norman Motte and Bailey castle.

Head Ranger and National Trust Project Manager James Stein said: “It’s very early days and there’s still a lot of work to be done to research and investigate the area and its rich variety of wildlife.

“We’ll be working with a range of partners over the coming months to see what’s feasible, but we’d like to start the ball rolling, or sow seeds, by sharing some initial ideas and asking our Easter visitors what they’d like to see.”

People can feedback their comments and ideas by emailing the Project Manager on [email protected], by social media or by posting them to National Trust Erddig, Wrexham LL13 OYT marking them Wolf’s Den II informal consultation.

The rangers will also be on site in Wolf’s Den until 29 April asking for feedback during the Easter holidays, so visitors are urged to go and have a look at the plans and tell the team what they think.