Moors Valley plays host to woodland story telling

Moors Valley plays host to woodland story telling

Moors Valley plays host to woodland story telling

Each bed has a different sound adventure to share including magical folklore tales, woodland songs, and the story of the amazing underground network that helps the trees to talk to each other. Located on the Play Trail, FOREstory will be open from 10am-4pm on both days.

Families can also visit the brand-new wooden sculpture of the popular children’s story book character, the Gruffalo, at the start of the Play Trail. Then continue the story theme by following the Superworm Trail to learn more about the Forest’s smallest creatures. Special packs for the trail are available to buy from the Visitor Centre for £3.50 with additional activities, including stickers, a superhero mask, creature fact cards, at-home activity sheet, pencil and crayon. On 14 May only a free Superworm book will also be given with each Superworm Activity Pack purchased (subject to availability).

Melanie Keddie, Marketing Manager, for Forestry England, South District, said: “Forests are magical places full of diverse soundscapes created by nature. FOREstory is a really unique way for families to experience and immerse themselves in these wonderful stories and discover more about what makes Moors Valley such a special place.”

Lorna Rees, co-writers and directors of FOREstory said: “Set in a beautiful glade in the Forest, each one of these beds creates a sound world inside it. Simply lie down and listen to the stories. Moors Valley is an amazing place and somewhere I have visited with my family many times. Making something for this special location was really exciting.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Media contact:

Susan Smith

Media Officer, Forestry England, South District

Tel: 07384 878434

susan.smith@forestryengland.uk

 

  1. About Moors Valley – Moors Valley Country Park and Forest is jointly owned and managed Dorset Council and Forestry England, working closely with a number of onsite concessions. In 2022, the Park has won Gold at the Dorset Tourism Awards in March and Silver for Large Visitor Attraction in the South West Tourism Excellence Awards in April.

Moors Valley one of the most visited attractions in the south with more than 750,000 visitors annually enjoying its lakeside walks and bike rides, innovative forest play structures, Tree Top Trail, steam railway, Go Ape, Segways, Nets Adventure and Golf Course. Prized as much by the local community as visiting tourists the park also offers stimulating play facilities, nationally recognised green exercise initiatives, locally sourced resta­­­urant food and an extensive year-round events programme.

Alongside meeting the needs of its visitors, Moors Valley remains a safe haven for wildlife. The Park is one of the best sites in the UK for dragonflies and home to a highly successful water vole reintroduction programme. More information on the wide range of events and activities taking place at Moors Valley Country Park and Forest can be found at www.moors-valley.co.uk

  1. About Forestry England

Forestry England manages and cares for the nation’s 1,500 woods and forests, with over 296 million visits per year. As England’s largest land manager, we shape landscapes and enhance forests for people to enjoy, wildlife to flourish and businesses to grow. We are continuing the work we have already started to make the nation’s forests resilient to climate change and by 2026 we will:

  • create at least 6,000 more hectares where we integrate wilding activities in our productive forests.
  • increase the diversity of visitors to the nation’s forests and have one million hours of high-quality volunteer time given to the nation’s forests
  • plant at least 2,000 hectares of new, high quality, predominantly broadleaf woodlands

For more information visit forestryengland.uk. Forestry England is an agency of the Forestry Commission.

  1. About Dorset Council

The Dorset Council Ranger team at Moors Valley are part of the wider Coast and Greenspace team; working across Dorset to provide, protect and develop open spaces. Visit www.dorsetforyou.com

  1. Activate Performing Arts

Activate exists to promote, support and produce performing arts projects in our communities. Bringing world-class events to unexpected places, like town centres, village squares, beaches and hilltops. And we’ve been doing it for over 30 years. Our aim is to break down barriers and reach the widest possible audiences, while celebrating our natural landscape and sense of place. Supporting our performing arts community is at the heart of everything we do. We bring people together, offer advice, and provide access to learning and resources. In everything we do, we have just two rules. Anything’s possible. And everyone’s invited.