>July Events / Events in Norfolk and Suffolk / Tourist Attractions Norfolk and Suffolk / Wildlife July 31, 2013
Reject technology and go WILD this summer at WildRootz at Pensthorpe Wildlife & Gardens in Norfolk – a brand new £1million attraction geared up to connect children with rural Britain!
Openedon on 26th July 2013 WildRootz comprises of over 30 individual items of play equipment nestled in the Norfolk countryside. At 7,000 square-metres in size it will be larger than the Canopy Walk at Kew Gardens and the outdoor play area at Chatsworth House combined!
There’ll be shallow streams to splash through*, dens to build, underground burrows to explore, a giant 12m high winding slide tower called ‘The Worm’, ‘The Flyway’ zipwire, trees to climb and more gentle areas for younger children including a sandpit and, coming in autumn, an ‘Arty Party Barn’ for indoor parties and nature based craft activities.
Children’s growing dependency on technology and spending less time outdoors has underpinned Pensthorpe’s decision to develop the natural play trail.
WildRootz will be set at the edge of Pensthorpe’s existing woodland and park to become an extension of its gardens, wetlands, conservation centre, wildflower meadows, farmland and woodland.
Deb Jordan, owner of Pensthorpe comments: “It’s been well documented how children today are inclined to stay indoors to play in the virtual world rather than putting on a pair of wellies and playing outside in the natural world.
“It is also well understood that the effect of this disengagement with the outdoors is having a negative impact on their mental development in terms of the ability to naturally access risk. We believe children are becoming quite detached from rural Britain and instead getting hooked into technology, to the point where they don’t know what many species of bird, insect, tree or plant look like.
“WildRootz is our contribution in encouraging a new generation of Chris Packhams or David Attenboroughs for tomorrow.”
WildRootz will provide a healthy and inspiring place for families to have fun and enjoy an energetic day out; bringing with it benefits including physical exercise, inspiring curiosity, problem solving, learning responsibility, social fun and interaction plus a hands-on opportunity to learn about the wonders of the natural world.
In conjunction with this new and exciting nature play area Pensthorpe is also launching a new ‘Passport’ which will guide children and families through WildRootz before linking them into the reserve and the remodelled bug walk and stamper trail.
Pensthorpe can be followed on Twitter @Pensthorpe or on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pensthorpe
WildRootz Factfile
Who is WildRootz aimed at?
Children aged 3 to 15, as well as parents, grandparents, siblings, aunties and uncles!
How much will it cost to enter?
It will be included in the normal Pensthorpe admission price. £10.75 for Adults, £9.00 for Seniors and £7.50 for children aged 3-16.
Opening Times
Same as Pensthorpe, open daily from 10am. Closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Wild Facts!
The Worm Slide Tower is over 3 stories high and has more than 15 levels inside!
Over 140 timber logs the height of telegraph poles have been used to create ‘The Rookery’, a gigantic nest!
100 tonnes of sand has filled the 15 metre-wide sand pit
134 new trees will be planted throughout the car park and the play area
4,500 tonnes of soil, shingle and sand have been moved in total but will be reused around the estate
The stream has been lined with 155 metres of liner
About Pensthorpe
Pensthorpe Wildlife & Gardens is on the A1067, one mile from Fakenham. Open all year, 1st January – 28th February 10am – 4pm, and 1st March – 31stDecember 10am to 5pm. Courtyard Café serving home-cooked food; Gift Shop with a large range of stylish and unusual items; free parking. Tel 01328 851465, www.pensthorpe.com
