Located beside the River Leam, Mill Gardens is a much-loved green space in Royal Leamington Spa, celebrated for its lawns, botanical planting, boating lake and central play provision.
Its heritage is equally distinctive, with Samuel Lockhart’s performing elephants, Wilhelmina, Trilby and Haddie, once local icons who walked through the town and bathed in the river.
When Warwick District Council identified that the existing play area had reached the end of its usable life, the brief called for a high-quality, visually striking replacement that would reflect the park’s setting, celebrate local identity and create a memorable family destination.
Proludic transformed the initial elephant theme into an ambitious bespoke design. At its centre stands a 4-metre-high Robinia elephant, providing a sculptural focal point as well as opportunities for imaginative and physical play. An elephant springer and bespoke elephant slide further bring the local story to life.
Inclusivity was central to the scheme. Developed with input from Evergreen School, the design includes a wheelchair-inclusive seesaw, a wheelchair-accessible roundabout, twin trampolines, tactile panels, and sensory features inspired by the River Leam and surrounding gardens.
The completed play area successfully combines the natural aesthetic of Robinia timber with other durable materials suited to a high-use public park, creating a distinctive, inclusive and locally meaningful destination for families in Royal Leamington Spa.
