Thursday 16 April 2009

It's like the forest, but it's like a theme park - which is it?

We went to visit Bedgebury Forest and Pinetum (place where foreign pine trees grow) yesterday. It's an amazing place, full of American red woods, generic pines, larch's and general unidentifiable trees. They have lots of lovely walks, a gorgeous lake, it is accessible in the most part for buggy's and wheelchairs and well it is very lovely.

But..it maybe has included a bit too much fun and enjoyment in its design. At every turn on the path it seemed we stumbled across another amazing wooden play area, or zip wire. There were quite a few ice-cream opportunities, although to be fair all clustered around the entrance bit. They do concerts, and its all very manicured. There are bins, and tables and lots of people. Oh, and of course paths.

The weirdest bit has to be the 'Go Ape' theme adventure which goes around the forest, mostly above your heads. It's a sort of survival zip wire, swing through the sky, climb up ladders sort of day out. Fascinating to watch but certainly a little too; 'I'm a Celeb Get Me Out of Here' to do for most people. (Although it was very busy).

So fantastic the forest is being used, is accessible and fun but slightly sad it doesn't have more quiet spots, or more left natural. It clearly did spark the imagination of many of its younger visitors as children were busy digging in sand, and building dens and so on all around us.

There were also a lot of ants. Lots.

4 comments:

Lola said...

The forest looks soo peaceful in the pic though the 'Go Ape' installation does sound a bit weird! Have visions of David Attenborough popping up out of the undergrowth at any second closely pursued by camera crew...

At least the ants, though an awful nuisance, don't bite (and occasionally kill!) like the dreadful processional caterpillars here in Andalucia!

My neighbour's dog, Lola, has only just recovered from a close encounter of the wrong kind with them...

Love your blog which I only recently came across. Work permitting, I'll keep visiting very often!

P.S. If you haven't seen these monstrous caterpillars, there's a pic on a recent post - if you're not squeamish, that is!

Nora

Anonymous said...

Hi Nora
Thanks for visiting, and don't let work stop you internetting...except am guessing you are actually self employed as a writer so yes, maybe do.
Did check out your giant caterpillars, and yes, bloody glad they are 'over there' not here.

Kitty said...

Hello! Thank you for visiting my blog and taking the time to comment. I've had a lovely time looking over your blog - it has a restful, peaceful feel to it. I'm sure I'll be back. Take care :-)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the restful quote Kitty - I'm kinda worried that is jut a false sense of security though lulled by pictures of the trees. But hopefully not! And theory is if I get all mad ramblings out here will be much calmer in 'real' life or something!