Plans revealed for giant tree maze in Midlothian adventure playground expansion

Plans to extend a popular Midlothian adventure playground with a giant tree maze have been lodged with planners.

The Buccleuch Estate, which operates Fort Douglas at Dalkeith Country Park, has applied to extend the boundary of the play park on a site of nearly two hectares – equivalent to almost four football pitches.

The plans for the land, which is mainly covered in Douglas Fir trees, show the creation of a maze within the trees as the operators look to “continue enhancements and new attractions”.

It is the latest in a line of planning applications and expansions at the park in recent years. Plans have also been lodged to put new shelters on the site.

Two years ago, the park applied for permission to expand its space to create more space for picnics and amenity space for families, as its continued development of the attractions meant there was less open space.

In 2021, the Buccleuch Estate was granted planning permission to add two giant jumping pillows to the adventure playground.

The estate has been praised by the council in the past for creating the play park around trees rather than removing them. The latest proposals also plan to work around the trees with no plans to remove any of them.

Instead, they are applying to move deer fencing to the wider boundary and create a new, larger playground area.

The plans can be viewed on the Midlothian Council planning portal.