Latest news with #PaultonsPark
The Independent
13-06-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Extinct insects return to UK: ‘Like bringing them back from the dead'
The New Forest cicada, a musical insect species extinct in the UK, has been reintroduced from France by the Species Recovery Trust. Eleven New Forest cicadas were released into a habitat at Paultons Park, near the New Forest, where they previously lived until the 1990s. Conservationists attribute the extinction to changes in land management and are hopeful that a warming climate will now favour their survival. Charlotte Carne from the Species Recovery Trust said it was 'amazing' to see the insects return to the UK: 'It's like bringing them back from the dead.' Some of the reintroduced cicadas are already laying eggs in their habitat, but the success of the project will not be known until at least 2029 due to the insect's long nymph stage.
-on-wheat-in-natural-habitat.jpeg%3Ftrim%3D437%2C338%2C168%2C320%26width%3D1200%26height%3D800%26crop%3D1200%3A800&w=3840&q=100)
The Independent
12-06-2025
- Science
- The Independent
‘Musical insect' extinct in the UK for over 30 years to be brought back from France
A species of musical insect extinct in the UK has been reintroduced to the country from France, conservationists have said. The Species Recovery Trust released 11 New Forest cicadas this week into a habitat at Paultons Park, near the Hampshire woods where they previously lived. The New Forest cicada, or Cicadetta montana, used to be found across the New Forest, but the last confirmed sightings were in the 1990s. Conservationists believe changes to land management led to their extinction in the UK. Charlotte Carne, Species Recovery Trust project officer, said: "This has been a really challenging project so it's amazing to see New Forest cicadas in England after all this time." 'It's like bringing them back from the dead.' The adult insects are black with distinct golden rings and transparent wings, with females growing to about 5cm while males are slightly smaller. The Trust recruited a French entomologist this week who captured the 11 female cicadas in northern France and had them shipped to the UK on Wednesday. It is understood that some of the insects are already pregnant and have been laying eggs in their specially created habitat, which is full of their favourite plants such as raspberry canes and hazel tree saplings. Because cicadas spend at least four years underground as nymphs, the trust will not know until 2029 at the earliest whether this phase of the project has been successful. If they survive, the conservationists can release the adults at secret locations in the New Forest. In the meantime, the team said it hopes to import more cicadas from France to continue the breeding programme at Paultons Park. They are also studying populations of the same species in Slovenia to learn more about their behaviour. Dominic Price, Species Recovery Trust director, said: 'We believe the New Forest cicada probably went extinct because of changes to the way land was managed, but we have worked with Forestry England to put the right kind of management in place. 'What's more, we think that our warming climate could also favour their survival, so we are very hopeful that one day soon, cicadas will sing in the New Forest again.' The first-of-its-kind project has been funded by Natural England, the Swire Charitable Trust and the Valentine Charitable Trust. Graham Horton, acting deputy director for the Thames Solent Area Team at Natural England, said: 'This project represents a remarkable achievement, showcasing the dedication, innovation and teamwork that made it possible. 'After years of absence, we finally have New Forest cicada on English shores again and we look forward to the next phase of the project to explore re-establishing this species in the New Forest.'
BBC News
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Paulton's Park announces new £12m Viking-themed world
A Hampshire theme park has announced plans for a £12m Viking-themed world due to open next Saturday, family-owned Paultons Park in Ower also opened new £3.5m indoor dark ride Ghostly Realm of the Vikings, is the attraction's largest investment to date and is aimed at families with older children and teenagers, said Paulton' will include two new rides - Drakon, the park's first inverting rollercoaster, and Vild Swing, which will swirl riders 39ft (12m) in the air. Paulton's Park first opened on 17 May 1983 and is owned and run by the Mancey family, who bought the site of the manor house, its gardens, parkland and lake, which was designed by Capability Brown, at auction in will also see the retheming of the Cobra ride into a bobsled adventure, which will be renamed Raven, and a themed high-capacity restaurant and new playground for younger park also confirmed another major thrill ride would be added to Valgard in 2027, saying only that it would be a "water-related experience". James Mancey, Paulton's deputy managing director, said: "We are thrilled to share our plans for our largest and boldest investment to date, and on the day that we welcomed guests into our brand-new Ghostly Manor."As an independent, family-owned theme park, we're incredibly proud of the investments we make to deliver the very best guest experience."He said the new rides would be "bigger and better than ever before".The park, which spans 140 acres (57 hectares) in the New Forest, is also home to Peppa Pig World, which opened in 2011. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
The Irish Sun
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I took my family to the perfect first UK theme park for little kids
AS I wind my way through a spooky mansion in the darkness, a ghostly figure appears. So I point my gun at it and begin zapping away. Advertisement 4 Shooting ghouls on the Ghostly Manor ride at the park Credit: Paultons Park 4 A Peppa Pig meet and greet for Tara and one of the twins Credit: Supplied I'm one of the first people to try the new Ghostly Manor ride, which opened this weekend, at The new £3.5million attraction transforms riders into ghostbusters aboard a four-seater carriage and armed with a 'Phantom Phaser' to shoot down as many mischievous ghouls as they can manage. At the end, each person gets a score and those with the highest make it on to the leaderboard. This spooky experience is for guests aged five and above, with a parent, while anyone over eight can ride solo — and it's unlike any other ride at the Hampshire park. Advertisement Read More on Travel I was visiting with my dad, partner Joe and our two-year-old twins Jack and Sienna. When we weren't hunting down ghosts in the haunted mansion, we were checking out the other toddler-friendly rides or posing next to Peppa Pig and her little brother George. They offer meet and greet sessions outside the schoolhouse twice a day, at 10.30am and 3pm. Advertisement Most read in Family Everything from the food to the baby changing facilities has been designed with children in mind, and the toilets were spacious and spotless. Better still, every loo has a mini seat for little bums, which, coming from a mum about to embark on potty training, is ingenious. Inside Peppa Pig World There's plenty to keep little ones entertained, including several playgrounds and a Peppa Pig-themed soft play area. When it came to the rides, we didn't queue more than 15 minutes for anything. Advertisement Peppa Pig World may be the main draw for many, but there's so much to do elsewhere in the park, too. We loved the dinosaur-themed area, Lost Kingdom, where kids can ride a jeep and travel back in time with The Dinosaur Tour Co Jurassic Expedition, getting up close with prehistoric giants. Jack and Sienna also loved seeing flamingos and rare birds in real life at one of a number of animal enclosures on site. There are penguins too. If you're visiting with older kids, aside from the new Ghostly Manor ride, you should be sure to check out the Flight Of The Pterosaur, a dino-themed suspended rollercoaster. Advertisement 4 Enter the spooky Ghostly Manor, if you dare 4 Watch meerkats in the animal area Credit: Paultons Park My dad and Joe also sneaked off while the little ones were napping to try out the Storm Chaser rollercoaster, a 16-person thrill ride that spins riders around in circles as well as up and down a winding track. Make sure you download the mobile app before you go as it has an easy-to-use interactive map, which is great for getting your bearings. Advertisement It also has information about how long wait times are. Plus, it lists where the nearest food stalls are and what they sell. If you're looking for a place to crash nearby, hotel Voco Fareham Solent has excellent interconnecting rooms that are great for families. It is a 30-minute drive from the theme park and anyone booking a short break at the hotel directly through the Paultons Park website will bag a second day in the park for free. Advertisement And while I won't ever forget the huge smiles on my kids' faces and the excitement in their eyes, the downside now is they won't stop asking when we're going back to visit their mate Peppa. GO: PAULTONS PARK ENTRY: Tickets to Paultons Park costs from £45pp, while anyone under one metre in height goes free. STAYING THERE: Interconnecting rooms at the Voco Fareham Solent hotel cost from £492 for two adults and two children, on a B&B basis and including a second day at the park for free. See
The Sun
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I took my family to the perfect first UK theme park for little kids
AS I wind my way through a spooky mansion in the darkness, a ghostly figure appears. So I point my gun at it and begin zapping away. 4 4 I'm one of the first people to try the new Ghostly Manor ride, which opened this weekend, at Paultons Park, home to Peppa Pig World. The new £3.5million attraction transforms riders into ghostbusters aboard a four-seater carriage and armed with a 'Phantom Phaser' to shoot down as many mischievous ghouls as they can manage. At the end, each person gets a score and those with the highest make it on to the leaderboard. This spooky experience is for guests aged five and above, with a parent, while anyone over eight can ride solo — and it's unlike any other ride at the Hampshire park. I was visiting with my dad, partner Joe and our two-year-old twins Jack and Sienna. When we weren't hunting down ghosts in the haunted mansion, we were checking out the other toddler-friendly rides or posing next to Peppa Pig and her little brother George. They offer meet and greet sessions outside the schoolhouse twice a day, at 10.30am and 3pm. Paultons Park is the perfect first theme park for little kids. Everything from the food to the baby changing facilities has been designed with children in mind, and the toilets were spacious and spotless. Better still, every loo has a mini seat for little bums, which, coming from a mum about to embark on potty training, is ingenious. Inside Peppa Pig World There's plenty to keep little ones entertained, including several playgrounds and a Peppa Pig-themed soft play area. When it came to the rides, we didn't queue more than 15 minutes for anything. Peppa Pig World may be the main draw for many, but there's so much to do elsewhere in the park, too. We loved the dinosaur -themed area, Lost Kingdom, where kids can ride a jeep and travel back in time with The Dinosaur Tour Co Jurassic Expedition, getting up close with prehistoric giants. Jack and Sienna also loved seeing flamingos and rare birds in real life at one of a number of animal enclosures on site. There are penguins too. If you're visiting with older kids, aside from the new Ghostly Manor ride, you should be sure to check out the Flight Of The Pterosaur, a dino-themed suspended rollercoaster. 4 4 My dad and Joe also sneaked off while the little ones were napping to try out the Storm Chaser rollercoaster, a 16-person thrill ride that spins riders around in circles as well as up and down a winding track. Make sure you download the mobile app before you go as it has an easy-to-use interactive map, which is great for getting your bearings. It also has information about how long wait times are. Plus, it lists where the nearest food stalls are and what they sell. If you're looking for a place to crash nearby, hotel Voco Fareham Solent has excellent interconnecting rooms that are great for families. It is a 30-minute drive from the theme park and anyone booking a short break at the hotel directly through the Paultons Park website will bag a second day in the park for free. And while I won't ever forget the huge smiles on my kids' faces and the excitement in their eyes, the downside now is they won't stop asking when we're going back to visit their mate Peppa.
