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There’s a magical new woodland adventure park with treehouses, mazes and slides an hour from Manchester
Know anyone who’d love this?
BeWILDerwood Cheshire opened its doors earlier this year after being set back for almost a year due to coronavirus.
Based on the BeWILDerwood book series by Tom Blofeld, the adventure sites feature aerial ropewalks, climbing wales and even mazes high up in the treetops.
The first adventure site opened in Norfolk over 13 years ago and the Cheshire site was originally supposed to open in May 2020 but has been pushed back until spring this year.
BeWILDerwood
The 70-acre forest features over ten giant structures to run ‘WILD’ on.
According to the website: “BeWILDerwood is a huge, award winning forest of family fun and outdoor adventure. Treehouses, Wobbly Wires, Slippery Slopes, Crocklebogs, Twiggles and Boggles, storytelling, marsh walks and really yummy food!”
The website continues: “A day at BeWILDerwood means endless hours spent together, exploring our wonky world of treehouses, whizzing down super slides, swinging together on giant swings and zipping along extra-long zip wires, as well as joining in with our storytelling and creative crafts amongst other things!
“Create memories, get outdoors, and PLAY together! We rarely see grown-ups sitting on the side-lines here at BeWILDerwood as adults play too!
“So get ready to run WILD. And don’t forget to look out for Boggles and Twiggles too!”
BeWILDerwood
Author and BeWILDerwood founder Tom said of the original 2020 launch: “Following the success of our Norfolk site which has been bringing joy to families for over 13 years now, we are thrilled to announce that tickets are now on sale for BeWILDerwood Cheshire.
“It has been in development for 3 years following enormous customer demand, and we look forward to customers from all over the North-West of England, and further afield coming to our amazing new site.
“BeWILDerwood really is a breath of fresh air compared to other attractions, and we are unique in our approach to play, with no noisy rides, no electronics, and no junk food. We can’t wait until we open our Wonky Wooden Gates on May 23rd and welcome all of our loyal and new customers to the wonderful world of BeWILDerwood.”
To book tickets or to find more info head over to the website here.
It’s nearly that time of the year again, as we count down the days until Christmas – yes, it’s only September, but there’s no harm in getting excited early.
And the festive season means one thing – the return of the popular Manchester Christmas Markets.
The annual event will once again return to Manchester in 2022, and will be spread out across a number of locations in the city centre.
@mcrchristmasmarkets / Instagram
The dates for this year’s event have now been revealed, and this year it will all kick off on Thursday November 10th.
From this date, they will be open every day until Thursday December 22nd – the main hub of markets will then close, but certain zones will reopen after Christmas and into the New Year.
This will include the Christmas ice rink at Cathedral Gardens, with the food and drink stalls at that location also reopening after Christmas Day.
David Dixon / Geograph
Last year, the main hub was located at the newly established ‘Winter Gardens’ in Piccadilly Gardens, which will be returning – the council is yet to release the full list of zones for this year, however.
It’s very likely that, as per usual, there will be stalls on Market Street, St Ann’s Square, King Street, Exchange Square and Cathedral Gardens.
Manchester’s Christmas spokesperson, Councillor Pat Karney, said: “With Christmas Day a mere three months away, that can only mean one thing – Manchester Christmas Markets Day is even sooner!
“In fact, there’s only seven weeks left to go until you can grab a gluhwein and buddy up with a bratwurst whilst checking out the fantastic Christmas gifts and goodies on the best Christmas Market in the land. Mark it on your calendars – 10 November – they’re back!”
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A huge Hot Wheels Monster Truck ‘Glow Party’ is coming to Manchester
There will be a pre-show party before each performance, giving fans the chance to get up close to their favourite Monster Trucks
Mancunians are set for some serious nostalgia with the arrival of the iconic Hot Wheels Monster Truck ‘Glow Party’ early next year.
Following the success of its debut in the US, family entertainment tour Hot Wheels Monster Trucks will be bringing its ‘Glow Party’ experience across the pond to Europe.
And in January next year, the battling monster trucks will roll into Manchester’s AO Arena for a two-night residency.
The ‘thrilling’ new experience is set to give audiences the chance to watch their favourite Hot Wheels Monster Trucks, including the likes of Mega Wrex, Tiger Shark, Boneshaker, Bigfoot, and the all-new Gunkster light up the floor.
Hot Wheels
There will be an exciting ‘Crash Zone’ pre-show party before each performance, giving fans access to the competition floor to get up close to the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks and get an autograph from their favourite drivers and performers.
Tim McWilliams, the Senior Vice President of Touring and International Music at Live Nation, said: “We are thrilled to be embarking on our third UK tour of Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live.
“As the world’s largest live-entertainment company, we are part of many incredible shows, but Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live provides a new dimension in family entertainment that never fails to impress.
“We can’t wait for these shows so we can all join the Glow Party.”
Hot Wheels
And speaking ahead of the event’s arrival next year, the CEO of Family Entertainment Live Ken Hudgens added: “With the success of the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party thus far, we’re excited to continue the amazing experience into 2023 internationally.”
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Glow Party will be taking over Manchester’s AO Arena on Saturday January 14th and Sunday January 15th 2023.
Tickets are on sale now, with each one including an autograph card, a souvenir pass, and lanyard exclusive to Crash Zone attendees.
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Manchester’s ‘first public city centre park’ to open this week
The park has been in the works for the last six years
Manchester’s first city centre park in over 100 years is set to open to the public this week.
Over the last eighteen months, the derelict space next to Piccadilly Station has been transformed into Mayfield Park, a stunning, accessible and varied green space for everyone to enjoy.
The planning, design and delivery of the park has been in the works for over six years, with it receiving £23m of investment from the government’s Getting Building Fund in 2020.
This investment, delivered through the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), is part of the Government’s strategy to support ‘shovel ready’ schemes that will help to drive economic recovery following the Covid pandemic.
Martin Moss
And this Thursday (September 22nd), Mayfield Park’s main entrance on Baring Street will officially open to the public.
The park will then be open seven days a week from dawn until dusk, providing local residents, visitors and communities across Manchester with a ‘city centre oasis of green space and beautifully landscaped river walkways’.
Martyn Evans, Creative Director at U+I, the regeneration company leading the Mayfield development on behalf of the Mayfield Partnership, described the opening as a ‘momentous day for Mayfield and for Manchester’.
He said: “The greatest cities in the world offer a true blend of amazing culture, great architecture and green space. Manchester is one such city and Mayfield Park adds a significant piece of new, family-friendly, inclusive green space to the city centre.
Martin Moss
“It’s been a true team effort with our project team and our partners at Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester and LCR working closely with local building contractors PP O’Connor to deliver the park.
“We are incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved and we’re excited to welcome our first visitors on 22nd September.”
The leader of Manchester City Council, Cllr Bev Craig, added: “It’s with excitement then that we can look ahead to the official opening of the city centre’s first public park in 100 years later this week.
“We know the massive health and well-being benefits that green spaces can have for our residents and increasing access to parks for our residents is a key priority for us. Mayfield will be a 6.5 acre oasis at the heart of our city.
Mayfield Park
“Green investment is fundamental to our wider ambitions to improve air quality and underpins our work to strengthen Manchester’s resilience to climate change.
“Mayfield is a park first and foremost, but it is also a statement that development in the city can and should celebrate green spaces to become a focal point in our communities.
“Importantly, Mayfield also represents a significant economic boost for Manchester. The partnership has shopped local when procuring contractors to make sure that employment opportunities have benefited local companies and local people first.
“During the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, it’s this type of development that provides the jobs that our residents need – and makes sure Manchester people continue to share in the success of our city.”
Mayfield Park will open to the public on Thursday September 22nd at 12:30pm. For more information, visit the Mayfield website.
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