Meeting the Gruffalo

We have gone a bit Gruffalo mad this Summer. After The Gruffalo Trail at Wyre Forest I saw what else was happening with the Forestry Commission Gruffalo 15th anniversary celebrations and discovered the Great Gruffalo Forest Tour was at Beechenhurst Lodge, Forest of Dean.

Getting to Anyone who knows me will know that I do not really drive, especially places I have never been before. But this was an opportunity that we really could not pass up. I did struggle to find the place, and got redirected all over the place. We found the Forestry Commission office and even ended up at someone’s house. They were so kind and even got in their car so that I could follow them to the right place. Parking was £3.50 for all day.

We timed it perfectly as the Gruffalo was already waiting with a queue of people behind him. We warned of big queues but it really was not that long.

Whilst waiting the boys were each given a frame to put their Gruffalo pictures in.

The queue was closed after us – so we really did time it right. However, a family came who said they had already been sent away once and they let them join the queue.We did not feel rushed at all, and were able to take as many pictures as we liked.

Then the weather took a turn for the worse and we ended up back at our car for a picnic. Most people made the decision to go home. This meant that the queue for the professional face-painter was much smaller. 

The face paints were £3.50 each and the boys absolutely loved them. You can see they were fantastic quality.

It did say that there would be story-telling on the day but I did not see any. I am not sure if that’s because we missed seeing it due to the rain, or that they had gone due to the rain. The trail was the same as the one we had already seen, minus the wood carving and so we never actually went into the forest.

The Schola Foris Archimedes (SFA) were there encouraging us to make our favourite Gruffalo character, with scavenged materials from the forest. 

Despite the rain the boys participated.

They shaped quick drying clay and put in the materials they thought best to complete it.

There was even a cute Gruffalo teddy to help encourage young children over to see what was there.

There were examples, and the lady also talked about ideas for different Gruffalo characters. I am disappointed that I have never heard of them before as they have some amazing ideas. Like we missed a father and son build a den day for Father’s day. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for future events.

Of course no weather was stopping my boys from playing on the park!

The drive home was much easier and I can say I gave my boys a fab day out and conquered a bit of my driving fear. Oh and I may have taken a great big tub of Haribos with me!

This will have sparked more enthusiasm for today’s sensory screening of The Gruffalo Live – we are very excited.

You may also be interested in The Best Gruffalo Trails Across the UK

This is not a sponsored post. We are seeing The Gruffalo Live for free in association with The Sensory Seeker Blog.