| Product: |
Conkers |
| Date: |
09/06/02 (169 review reads) |
| Rating: |
 |
Advantages: Reasonable prices, Fun
Disadvantages: none
There's a large sign on the M1 in Leicestershire proudly proclaiming "The National Forest", which is odd because there aren't any trees around.
What's going on? A hoax? A cockup? Actually it's a sign 10 to 20 years ahead of its time. In 2020 this area will look very different.
The key to the mystery lies in the area's industrial heritage. North west Leicestershire was once the coal mining heart of the midlands, with seams stretching all the way to Sheffield. When the industry collapsed in the 1990s, the countryside was left with an ugly legacy of slag heaps, rusting collieries and deep black slurry pits.
But in a far-sighted piece of thinking, the county council, government and other agencies drew up a blueprint to regenerate the area. The result was The National Forest, the first major new forest to be planted in England for centuries. In truth they had very little room to manoeuvre because the land is unsuitable for homes.
Under the scheme, hundreds of acres of the Leicestershire countryside will be planted with 1m trees. Some 300,000 trees have already been planted, with 700,000 more to go.
The project got underway seven years ago and the vast majority of the trees are still in their infancy. Many areas have still not been planted. Hence the mysterious motorway sign.
But those areas in the first waves of planting are already transforming the blighted landscape as the trees take root and grow.
In the heart of the forest, near the small former mining town of Moira, you'll find a one-year-old theme park which has successfully blended patches of old woodland with thousands of new plantings. It's goes by the rather twee name of Conkers, which is the only annoying thing about the place.
Built on the site of a former colliery, Conkers is marketed as "the hands-on experience at the heart of the National Forest". It has been so successful it has easily h
it its first year target of 300,000 visitors.
If you've been to a Centreparcs theme park, you'll be familiar with Conkers. Leafy trails dotted with superb play areas for kids and cafes for weary parents. No bicycles unfortunately.
On arrival you walk into a large Scandinavian-type building with a reception area, two shops stocked with (very expensive) local handicrafts and a cafe serving a full range of snacks and meals (not too pricey).
Here you'll find a range of fun interactive exhibits to keep the kids (and mums and dads!) amused for an hour or two, longer on on a rainy day. You can travel in a woodland time machine, see a leaf breathe and pull all manner of levers. There's also an astonishing tree with its roots visible under a toughened glass floor.
Outside is a lake, probably once used a for slurry or open cast mining, and a small water play area (watch out, it does get slippery).
A stroll around the lake brings you to the station for the Conkachoo, a free miniature train, which takes you the short hop to an adventure park with big twisty slides, rope swings and obstacle courses, all built on wood chippings to cushion any falls. Kids love it.
At weekends the area is packed with crowds, but if you come in the early morning on a weekday you can have the place to yourself. Worth the admission fee on its own.
Nearby is a kiosk for refreshments and another mini-visitor centre with (slightly shabby) exhibits, an art gallery and a lakeside cafe. Relaxing on the lake boardwalk in summer sun with a cappuchino is heaven.
Push deeper into the park and you'll find sculpture and leafy woodland trails. There are also vantage points over the treetops and even a small trail through the canopy.
Follow a circular path (about a mile) and you'll come to a formidable assault course for adventurers aged 9+ . Be warned - it's tough. There are no mature trees here and one of
the joys of repeated visits to Conkers will be watching nature do its work.
All in all a great day out for young and old alike. Three hours is probably the minimum to get around the entire site, which opens at 10am.
If you've got the energy, there's a path outside the main entrance to nearby Sarah's Wood, which has a play area for disabled and able bodied children. It passes a canal basin which has been newly restored.
Details:
Where: The site is near the market town of Ashby de la Zouch. Use the A42 and follow the brown signs.
Parking: Car parking is free and pentiful at the front of the visitor centre, off Rawdon Road.
Price: Adult admission is £5.25 (concessions £4.25), child admission is £3.25 and under threes go free. A family tickets costs £14.95. Bring a picnic if its hot - there are large tables dotted around the lake.
Other: All paths are well compacted and suitable for buggies and wheelchairs.
Tel: 01283 216633.
Emai: info@visitconkers.com
Web: www.visitconkers.com
Summary:
|
Last members to rate this review:
(0 members total)
Overall rating: not yet rated
|
