The Forestry Commission are running events across the country to celebrate 15 years of The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. At the moment there is a Gruffalo Trail in Wendover Woods, so this was the perfect time for us to visit. Wendover Woods is high up in the Chilterns and it is always a few degrees colder than you think it’s going to be, but this time we were prepared. We had wellies, fleeces and change for the car park! Wrapped up and wellie boots on, we set off to find the illusive Gruffalo!
The trail is clearly set out on a marked path, which is mostly flat and possible to negotiate with a sturdy buggy (although be prepared for puddles and mud, especially at this time of year). We were lucky that the bluebells were out so we could enjoy them as well as searching for the Gruffalo.
Along the trail there are activity boards with some great suggestions of things to do. One of the boards got us thinking about how the animals in the story all move. Could we flap like an owl? Tip-toe like a mouse? Stomp like a Gruffalo?
There was also lots of splashing!
It wasn’t long before we found the mouse hiding in the trees. This really captured the imagination and then Burt was running ahead to find all the other animals.
In Wendover Woods there is also a Den Building Area which distracted us along the way. Lots of branches and logs are left here, from the management of the forest and you can easily spend a whole morning making your own Gruffalo hide-out. It is brilliant feature of the woods.
We managed to find the fox, the owl, the snake and at the end of the trail we finally found the Gruffalo! We love a walk in the woods but with a pre-schooler it can sometimes be hard work to keep them interested and walking all the way. The introduction of the trail kept everyone happy and eager to carry on and although some of the tasks are aimed at older children, just searching for the characters in the trees was exciting.
We didn’t have any Gruffalo crumble with us so we ended the visit with a well-deserved cup of tea and a slice of cake in the Cafe In the Woods. There are plenty of picnic benches if you bring your own supplies and there is also a children’s playground so we could have a run around before heading home. If you are at a loose end this Summer I would definitely recommend a Gruffalo hunt and Wendover Woods is a fantastic location.
If you don’t live near to Buckinghamshire then there are lots of other trails across the country. I really want to visit the Gruffalo trail in Thorndon Park, Essex having seen the adventures of Maris World, Mummy Pink Wellies and Emmys Mummy. There are also trails at Salcey Forest Northamptonshire and Sherwood Pines or you can search on the Forestry Commission website for events close to you.
Look how much fun ChelseaMamma and The Jones Family had on their trails last Summer, although please note that the Moors Valley Country Park is no longer running this trail.
At a recent Forestry Commission event All You Need Is Love and Cake and Red Rose Mummy got to spend a magical day in the forest with Julia Donaldson and that would be the ultimate Gruffalo experience! You can also look out for theatre performances such as a relaxed performance of The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo Live which is touring the country.
There are so many exciting and memorable ways to bring books to life. If getting out and about isn’t possible don’t worry there are lots of Gruffalo activities you can do at home.
How wonderful and imagine being Julia Donaldson, knowing this has been created in your name! My kids are a little old now, but I know they would have adored this a couple of years ago.
Actually Mummy… recently posted…Brilliance in Blogging: How did it come to this?
There is a Go Ape in Wendover Woods too so it caters for all ages.
Oh how fabulous does that look?! I’d love to take mine there even though they are a teensy bit older than yours (understatement!), they’d love it and we could scramble up Go Ape too!
Chris at Thinly Spread recently posted…Rockpooling, Duck Racing and Pond Dipping - Visit Wales Part 2
Great post and love the pictures! I love the wellies, they are so cute! x
Charlotte recently posted…Me & Mine {April} 2014
I took Z to one in Essex and it was FAB! Such a great day out and he was so excited to be there and discover all the characters. He has the Gruffalo wellies too ! Lovely post. Must get round to writing mine up one day…
Ooh, I think we will go I’m not too far from here. I was so jealous of their day in whinlatter with Julia Donaldson, so I can recreate it by going here 😀
anna recently posted…Garden Makeover with the Outspiration app
Amy would love this. We went to a zoo in Germany last year and they had a witch on a broomstick hanging in the trees. Amy instantly thought it was meant to be a Room on the Broom forest..
Carolin recently posted…The Blue Bowl in Hanham/Bristol - a Sizzling Pub Review
Oh that sounds wonderful! Wish I had little ones to take along
Mine are too grown p for the Gruffalo now
TwinsplusTwo recently posted…Undiagnosed Children’s Awareness Day
This looks like such a fun trail! My little ones would love it
Amy recently posted…Brand New VS. Second Hand
aw this looks fantastic and i never actually knew it existed till now x
Aw magical fun, I love forests
Are you going to make Gruffalo Crumble, not with real Gruffalo of course 😉
The little one actually made Gruffalo crumble at nursery so I got to enjoy the results without the process!
We have not got to this stage yet, but I think it will be fun when we do x
Absolutely fantastic! The den building area is great, my children spend ages in our local forest building and discovering new dens.
Louisa recently posted…Fun!
That’s my plans for this bank holiday weekend sorted for the little Gruffalo fan I live with! Thank you.
It is a really good trail and not too long or hilly for little ones
looks fun! MY littlest loves the gruffalo x
Nice activities for children.My daughter went on a school trip to Wendover woods. She really enjoyed it.
Nayna Kanabar ( recently posted…Cracked finished wooden boards-DIY backgrounds for food pictures
Love places like this that actually put some thought into how to capture the children’s imagination and make it FUN for them! May even try it with mine 😉 x
Stephs Two Girls recently posted…How to make your own huge, GIANT Bubbles!
We love the Gruffalo and I love how many different crafts and activities you have shared. I would love to do the Gruffalo trail, we started the Stick man one. Thank you for sharing my relaxed performance post.
PinkOddy recently posted…Encourage Eating - Kids Co-op
What a great sounding trail, it would be so fun searching out the Gruffalo! x
Sarah Bailey recently posted…Get some Outspiration
Oh my that looks like atop day out!
Becky recently posted…Nature Play: 10 Cool Things Kids Can Do With..Sticks
We had one of these near us and the kids loved it!
Kara recently posted…Saturday is Caption Day - 3rd May 2014
Lots of grufflalo posts! now when i comeback in september i really want to take the girls there!
Oh look! Oh no!
These trails look such fun - looks like you both enjoyed it a LOT
Mammasaurus recently posted…51. How does your garden grow?
I love that trail and those woods are gorgeous! Really makes me want to get out and splash in some puddles too!
That place looks absolutely amazing. My children love the story so I expect they’d have great fun here. (and me!)
What a great post Kirsty, this is right up our street too - we love The Gruffalo. Hoping it’s on at Alice Holt, I must have a look. Wendover woods looks ace and I remember it vaguely from when I was growing up (lived in Berkhamsted). Sounds like you had a great time
F loves going on any sort of trails through the woods but Gruffalo one would be ace! They have it at Westonbirt Arboretum this year so we’ll be heading to that
x
Lori recently posted…MY WORKING DESK SPACE
oh my gosh Wilf would love this! x
What an amazing place!!!!!! My girls would completely love it here
x
Keri-Anne recently posted…In the orchard
Looks fab, i know there is one at Sherwood Pines which is about an hour from us. We need to visit it soon!
Kizzy recently posted…Beautiful Blossom
Great pictures! I don’t live too far from the Chilterns so it would be rude not to go. Little A is four years old now but still loves The Gruffalo, and so do I. Looks like a lot of fun. Loving those wellie boots :o). X.
This looks fabulous!
We are halfway between Salcey and Wendover, we’ve done Salcey but I think I need to plan a trip to Wendover too!
Liz Burton recently posted…Introducing the new Cricut Explore - the crafter’s cutting machine
We are hoping to go to one of these in our local forest very soon.
Erica Price recently posted…Puddlepac Jacket from Muddy Puddles
This looks awesome! We adore The Gruffalo. I so wish they did something like this here in Australia.
Melissa recently posted…Book Review of Karana and a Paper Plate Emu
Oh I just know that my Ava would love to do this!
Amanda recently posted…Canvas Holidays : Camping la Croix du Vieux Pont, Berny Rivière Review
W did this at Sherwood pines and loved it!
Becky recently posted…How Hiive helps with work life balance