Underground adventure experience is launched
CONKERS visitor attraction has launched a major underground adventure experience for children and families.
The new Warrens experience offers 70 metres of tunnels for intrepid young explorers to discover new mysteries beneath the ground.
Visitors can navigate the labyrinth of tunnels and discover what’s underground. Tunnels criss-cross each other and there are sound and light pods where they can relax to the sound of wind chimes and a kaleidoscope of colours.
Once the eyes adjust, visitors can begin to explore the Warrens and follow the path that a fox or badger may take when heading home to bed. When it’s time to finish, they will need to find their way back through the meandering passageways, relying on their senses to resurface at the peak and finish with a journey on a slide.
Funded with a £120,000 Landfill Communities Fund grant from The Veolia Environmental Trust the new Warrens underground adventure is included in the Conkers admission price. Tickets can be booked in advance from www.visitconkers.com/tickets
Nicky Carlton from Conkers said: “Children and their families love the outdoor adventures at Conkers including the Activity Trail, the Hi and Lo Ropes and the Barefoot Walk, but this is the first time that we’ll be taking visitors underground. The new Warrens underground adventure offers a unique view of the site and young explorers with love this new challenge.”
Mike Ballantyne, Project Director of the National Forest Charitable Trust added: “Since 1998, my role has been to transform the derelict mine and slag heaps of the former Rawdon and Marquis Collieries and Bath Pit into a visitor attraction for people to enjoy adventures, whilst learning a little about the environment and the creation of the National Forest.
“Deep underground are the remnants of the tunnels used by miners for over 100 years. We are now creating new tunnels in the Conkers landscape but this time they form part of our new Warrens project - a partially underground experience replicating the tunnels and communal areas of a ‘rabbit warren’.
“Overall the mound and tunnels cover an area 65m in diameter and provide space for some 50 plus visitors at any time. The tunnels will be illuminated and self-draining providing an excellent added adventure to the experiences already present with Conkers.”
The main funder of The Warrens is The Veolia Environmental Trust. Funding has also been provided by Next plc and the Maud Elkington Charitable Trust.
Lizzie Cooke from The Veolia Environmental Trust said: “The imaginative naturethemed design of the Warrens fitted our flagship funding criteria perfectly, allowing children and their imaginations to run wild, this definitely stand out as one of the best play areas we’ve supported!”