ROVANIEMI, Finland, April 4, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --
The highly anticipated PETER RABBIT™ Adventure Playground is set to officially open on Saturday 2 April at Willows Activity Farm in St Albans, Hertfordshire.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160401/350486 )
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160401/350487 )
Over £1million has been invested in developing the new playground and re-theming the site, which incorporates the natural landscape and state-of-the-art interactive technology in a safe and wholesome environment.
Willows also welcomes the stars of the critically-acclaimed animated CBeebies series 'Peter Rabbit' including Lily Bobtail and Peter Rabbit himself, who will be meeting and greeting visitors daily.
The countryside setting surrounding Willows has been used to support outdoor climbing frames as well as slides and rope walkways at the Peter Rabbit Secret Treehouse and the Benjamin Bunny Treetop Adventure. The equipment is designed to encourage children to explore and be adventurous, just like the characters in the stories.
Other features include the Jeremy Fisher Music Pond, where children can jump on lily pads to hear musical sounds and guess the instruments, and the Mr. Bouncer Great Invention, a sensory gaming activity to help them to learn about numbers and colours in a fun and active way.
Chief Executive of Willows, Andrew Wolfe said: "We've always been committed to improving the quality and range of activity at Willows but this is by far the biggest and most exciting - we can now invite our visitors to enjoy a day with one of the most famous children's characters in history."
"This is something completely new for local families to enjoy - the first ever Peter Rabbit Adventure Playground in the world! We're proud to be opening in the year of the 150th anniversary since the birth of Beatrix Potter, author of the original Peter Rabbit children's books, and we're delighted that we are able to bring them to life for the next generation," continued Mr. Wolfe.
Thomas Merrington, Head of Product Development at Penguin Ventures said: "The Willows brand fits seamlessly with ours and we've worked together to create an experience true to the Peter Rabbit values. It really feels as though you are stepping into Peter Rabbit's enchanting world!"
The playground is being built in partnership with Silvergate Media, the co-producers and global licensing agent of the CGI animated TV series 'Peter Rabbit', and Lappset Creative, a leading manufacturer of themed activity attractions.
Johan Granholm, Director of Lappset Creative said: "The new area is designed to engage young imaginations, championing curiosity, camaraderie and discovery - we know that parents and children alike are going to love it."
For more information visit http://www.willowsactivityfarm.com, follow @Willows_Farm on Twitter or use #Beatrix150 and #IMetPeter for all the latest updates.
About Willows Activity Farm
Willows Activity Farm provides a full day of wholesome fun and active learning through play for families, set in the Hertfordshire countryside. Situated 200 metres off Junction 22 of the M25, Willows Activity Farm is well located and easy to access for families in London and surrounding counties.
Willows includes PETER RABBIT™ Adventure Playground, the first themed attraction of its kind in the world, created in partnership with Silvergate Media, the co-producers and global licensing agent of the CGI animated TV series 'Peter Rabbit' and Lappset Creative, a leading manufacturer of themed activity attractions and play equipment. The new play attraction will open in April 2016 to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the birth of Beatrix Potter, author of the original books.
Willows offers an all-inclusive admission price, with all activities, shows, demonstrations, rides and seasonal programmes included in the entrance price. Visit http://www.willowsactivityfarm.com / Follow @Willows_Farm for more information.
About Silvergate Media
Silvergate Media is a highly creative TV Production and licensing company driven by big ideas and big collaborations. Formed in 2011, and with offices in New York and London, Silvergate develops world-class brands which inspire, entertain, educate and engage through innovative content, great products and strong partnerships. Among these brands are Peter Rabbit and Octonauts, two highly successful international properties for children.
About Beatrix Potter
Beatrix Potter is one of the world's best-loved children's authors, with her most famous creation The Tale of Peter Rabbit having sold in excess of 45 million copies globally since its initial publication in 1902. She personally oversaw the launch of subsequent products, making Peter Rabbit the oldest licensed character in history. Today over 2 million of her 'little books' are sold globally every year, and Peter Rabbit has appeared in books and products in more than 110 countries throughout the world.
150 years after her birth, we celebrate an incredible woman, an artist, storyteller, botanist, environmentalist, farmer and businesswoman. Beatrix Potter was a visionary and a trailblazer. Single-mindedly determined and ambitious, she overcame professional rejection, academic humiliation, and personal heartbreak, going on to earn her fortune and a formidable reputation. On her death she left an incredible legacy of land and property to the care of The National Trust to ensure that future generations would continue to enjoy the countryside that she was so passionate about as well as the much-loved characters and stories that were created over a lifetime.
NB: Penguin Ventures (part of the Penguin Random House Group) is committed to growing and protecting The Peter Rabbit™ brand and together with licensing agency, Silvergate Media, manages The World of Beatrix Potter™, one of the world's longest running and largest international literature-based licensing programmes.
About Lappset Creative
Lappset Creative is a designer and supplier of themed activity attractions for family entertainment locations, holiday destinations, theme parks as well as for shopping centres. Lappset Creative is part of Lappset Group, a family-owned private company and one of the world's leading enterprises of design and manufacture of themed attractions, playgrounds and sports equipment. During the past years, Lappset Creative has designed, manufactured and installed several large indoor and outdoor themed attraction facilities in a variety of countries. Established in 1970, the Group has an extensive experience in creating and providing playful learning, play and exercise environments to people of all ages. Located in the north of Finland, Finnish Lapland, the Group has manufacturing facilities in three different countries, an international network of subsidiaries in six different countries and a distributor network extending to more than 50 countries worldwide. Lappset Group Ltd has been awarded several international design recognitions during its existence. For more information visit http://www.lappsetcreative.fi or http://www.lappset.com
#lappsetcreative #lappset
PETER RABBIT™ © Frederick Warne & Co. Limited and Silvergate PPL Limited 2016. Based on the works of Beatrix Potter. PETER RABBIT and BEATRIX POTTER are trademarks of Frederick Warne & Co., a Penguin Company. All rights reserved.
