National Trust staff members restoring Cliveden in Buckinghamshire to its former glory have hit upon a novel way of getting around the disruption caused by scaffolding – a huge slide.
The 57ft stainless-steel creation will link the South Terrace to the gardens below while the staircase that normally provides a route between them is being cleaned and repaired. A viewing platform at the top allows visitors to look out to the Thames and beyond.
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Four people can whiz down the slide at the same time, making it ideal for family groups. ‘By offering visitors the chance to slide down into the historic garden, we know they will go home having had a great time, and also having engaged with the serious side of the work,’ says the Trust’s Sam Willis, who developed the project.
The 350-year-old South Terrace is being restored as part of a five-year programme of works at Cliveden costing £3.4 million. Visitors will be able to enjoy the viewing platform and slide in their current location until December, when they’ll be moved to the woods.
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