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.