Mayors Take Off

Pirates Day at Woodlands

Champagne splashed over 3 Mayors as they hurtled upwards on the new Swing Ship at Woodlands. 84 year old Dartmouth Councillor Elwyn Davies was the first to climb aboard the White Knuckle ride “I didn’t know what to expect” he chuckled “I’ve never experienced anything like it, my stomach was still at the top and I was coming down. I’m going to have another go”.

Iris Pritchard Mayor of Dartmouth smashed the Champagne bottle and named the ship “Sea Dragon”. She told us “Woodlands has made big investments to attract visitors to the area. It is a big asset to Dartmouth”.

Dartmouth Sea Cadets whirled heavy cutlasses round their heads in a dazzling display to start Pirates Day. Lt (SCC) Patrick K Franklin RNR cut the mooring rope and received a cheque from Pat Bendall, Woodlands Director. “This will be a great help” he said “as two Cadets are going to Canada and Sweden shortly and funds are hard to come by these days”.

Burly lifeboat men from Dartmouth RNLI Tony Chapman and Chris Rampling were surprised by the ride “It really throws you up” Tony said “Bit like a force 8 gale”. The Dartmouth Lifeboat has already saved five disasters since opening. Three fund raising ladies received a Woodlands cheque and had a money raising stall.

Picture Below: Mayor of Dartmouth Cllr Iris Pritchard with (SCC) Lt Patrick K Franklin RNR of Dartmouth Sea Cadets and Jackie Sparrow launching the new white knuckle ride at Woodlands the "Sea Dragon Swing Ship".

Adam Church winner of the South Hams Newspapers Red Carpet Day at Woodlands enjoyed his star treatment. “I feel really special” he told us “I was first on the Swing Ship with all the Mayors. I started the Ferret Racing. We were first on all the rides and had free meals and ice cream”.

Colourful pirates from all over Devon invaded the park on Wednesday. Families staggered home exhausted after experiencing the new zones in the 70 acre park. They took home loot bags presented by Cllr Pam Barnes Deputy Mayor of Totnes.

Councillor Rufus Gilbert Mayor of Kingsbridge and his wife Sandra had a wonderful day and had great fun judging the Davy Jones Best Dressed Pirates Competition. They particularly enjoyed the new Big Fun Farm and helped feed the lambs “It is an excellent park” he said “The Sea Dragon Swing Ship ride is an occasion we will not forget”.

Picture Below: Mayor of Kingsbridge Cllr Rufus Gilbert with the winners from Davy Jones Best Dressed Pirate Competition.

Rare Owls fooled by weather

CCTV Cameras catch magic moments

Spring like weather has fooled one of the world’s tiniest owl into laying eggs 8 weeks early. Despite traveling 300 miles to their new home at Woodlands Falconry Centre a month ago the pair of Mexican Burrowing Owls have produced a tiny white egg as big as a thumbnail. Falconers Geoff and Lyn were astonished when they saw eggs deep in the heart of their burrow on CCTV.

With an experience of 50 years working with birds of prey Geoff was speechless with excitement. “I could not believe my eyes when I saw the egg” he said “it is rare for these birds to breed in captivity. It is unheard of for Burrowing Owls to lay eggs in early February its usually late March or April”. Geoff and Lyn worked hard preparing a natural paradise for Chico and Chica. They built a huge mound of earth with long tunnels leading to a central nest that is one metre inside the mound. They equipped it with an infra red light camera and microphone to enable visitors to hear and see Chico and Chica in their pitch black underground home.

Geoff believes this is the first time that Burrowing Owls have been observed under ground. Standing just five inches tall the owls come from North and South America. The birds fly strongly but spend some time hunting grasshoppers and scorpions on the ground, using their talons to catch larger insects in the air. They take over tunnels normally dug by rabbits and ground hogs. They usually lay a clutch of two or three eggs.

Visitors to Woodlands are tweeting with pleasure as they watch these unique birds close up on CCTV and listen to their courting calls. The little owls are natural comedians as they bob up and down excitedly running around on their long legs in and out of the burrows. Geoff explained their behavior “Chico stands guard outside whilst Chica chirps and whistles to him to come inside. They even make a hissing and rattling noise like a rattle snake to scare off intruders.

We hope the eggs will hatch in the first week of March”. Schools are taking a great interest in the event and hope they may even have the unique opportunity of watching the Mexican little owls hatching. “This is a first” said Geoff “we are keeping feathers crossed that visitors will soon see baby Burrowing Owls at Woodlands over the next few weeks.

Easter Press Release

Easter Magic

Easter is that magical time when lambs have spring in their hooves, babies pop up everywhere and buds burst into flower. At Woodlands the whole park is buzzing as the 15 family rides leap into life. Watercoasters speed down the flumes, the Avalanche fires up to launch screaming victims into space and laughter spreads from the happy snappy Dune Buggies and Polar Pilots. The 12 play zones are packed with excited youngsters exploring challenges, splashing in boats, little ones are climbing and swinging and Dads show off on the commando course.

The lively Easter Programme has sparkling Entertainers from Jugglers to Clowns performing everyday of the school holidays, monstrous Egg Hunts on Easter Sunday and Monday, prizes to be won and wondrous Easter Bonnets appear in the Bank Holiday Easter Parade with half price refunds for competitors. Spring showers are no problem with vast indoor playcentres to occupy the whole family with rides, slides and challenging venture courses. Ball firing cannons in the two Master Blaster arenas are big fun with play palaces and the Circus train for little folks.

There is big magic appearing above Animal Farm as the new Big Fun Farm takes shape. Extreme weather conditions has hampered the opening of the £600,000 project, which may not be completed for Easter. This new look farm is brimming with exciting ideas and is definitely more than a farm with favourite animals in new airy barns, new exotic birds and animals, the U-Drive Tractor Ride and hilarious commando racing ferrets. There is powerful playtime magic for small farmers as they manoeuvre tractors and fire engines round the Windmill, Fire station and Pedal Town buildings packed with games and interactive play and the pedal pushing Yard Racers are arriving later.

All the rides, attractions, live entertainers and prizes are included in the day out for just £37.80 for four persons. That's a magical surprise for the family purse which has change for eats and ice creams. How's that for Woodlands magic this Easter?