A brand new multi-million-pound wonderland devoted to the tales of the Gruffalo is opening in the UK – and it will only be a two-hour drive away from Manchester.
Taking over a four-acre park, the wonderland s inspired by the best-selling picture book The Gruffalo written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler.
With real-life animals, animatronics, film clips and much more, visitors to The Gruffalo Discovery Land at Twycross Zoo will encounter Mouse, Fox, Owl, Snake and the Gruffalo along their interactive journey through the deep dark wood.
The park has been put together in partnership with a conservation organisation that exists to protect wildlife, preserve endangered species and educate the next generation on the importance of protecting our planet.
It will open at Twycross Zoo on Saturday 9 April 2022.
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Twycross Zoo is one of the UK’s major zoos, caring for around 500 animals from over 125 species. It welcomes around 600,000 visitors a year to its 100-acre site in Leicestershire.
A two-hour drive from Manchester by car, it’s a perfect day out for the little ones – allowing them to meet their favourite characters from the book and to interact with wildllife in a beautiful setting.
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Image: Supplied
Speaking on the new opening, Dr Sharon Redrobe OBE, CEO of Twycross Zoo, said: “Much-loved children’s books, such as The Gruffalo, can inspire the imaginations of young children and encourage them to learn more about the natural world around them.
“The Gruffalo Discovery Land is a real celebration of both children’s love for animals and nature and we’re so excited to bring these wonderful creatures to life here at Twycross Zoo.
“Our aim for this ground-breaking experience is to engage and inspire more young children than ever before about the importance of conservation and the natural world.
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“Recent global reports have highlighted the need for urgent action and we’re committed to educating more young people than ever before about the part they can play in protecting our planet – each one of us can make a real difference.”
Why, didn’t you know?
📅 IT’S CONFIRMED – The Gruffalo Discovery Land opens on Saturday 9 April 2022!
Historic hidden library in Manchester city centre reveals £11m transformation plans
Emily Sergeant
Ambitious plans to transform one of Manchester’s greatest historical hidden gems have been announced.
Founded all the way back in 1806, The Portico Library – which is hidden in plain sight on Mosley Street, in the heart of the city centre – played a central role in Manchester’s rise as the world’s first modern city, and since then, it has been serving as a window into the past and a providing a place of inspiration for anyone who needs it.
But now, these new transformation plans, titled The Reunited Project, will ensure the building not only survives, but also thrives as the UK’s most sustainable historic library for generations to come.
The Portico Library‘s transformational scheme is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and will look to ‘reunite’ the historic building’s three floors for the first time in over a century, creating a fully-accessible and sustainable cultural library.
Crucially, plans will see a step-free entrance and lift installed to make the library accessible to all.
There’ll also be new exhibition and event spaces introduced as part of the scheme to explore the stories of Manchester’s communities and the city’s heritage.
There will a Northern Bookshop, showcasing regional and emerging writers, and independent publishers, as well as a creative Portico Kitchen, which will celebrate the city’s food culture, writing, and history.
A place for school groups, families, and all people to explore Portico’s collection and experiment creatively also forms part of the plans.
“Portico Reunited is about more than restoring a building,” explained Dr Thom Keep, who is a Librarian & the Chief Executive of the Portico Library, after the transformation plans were submitted to Manchester City Council.
“It’s about opening doors to stories, ideas, heritage and communities across Greater Manchester.
“These plans secure Portico’s future, unlocking the power of heritage to inspire Manchester’s visitors and residents to explore, share, and celebrate their stories and the city’s literary and global heritage.”
If the plans are approved by the Council, The Portico Library will close for around 18 months for construction, during which it will continue to engage the public through its ‘Portigo !’ pop-up programme.
Featured Image – Portico Library
News
Government announces homebuying overhaul to fix country’s ‘broken’ housing system
Emily Sergeant
The Government has announced what it’s calling the biggest shakeup to the homebuying system in this country’s history.
In a bid to ‘rewire a chaotic system which has become a barrier to homeownership for thousands nationwide, the Government has today (Monday 6 October) unveiled proposals that it says will speed up the long-drawn out and costly process of buying a home by four weeks.
The Housing Secretary says this will not only save people money, but unnecessary stress too.
The proposed new plans would see sellers and estate agents required to provide buyers with ‘vital’ information about a property upfront – including the condition of the home, leasehold costs, and chains of people waiting to move.
It’s hoped this will help end any last-minute chain collapses and ultimately give greater confidence to first-time buyers when they’re making one of life’s most important decisions.
The Government has announced plans to fix the country’s ‘broken’ housing system / Credit: Benjamin Elliott (via Unsplash)
Binding contracts could also be introduced to stop people walking away from agreements after buyers painstakingly spend months in negotiations to hopefully halve the number of failed transactions.
The new reforms are also proposing that prospective buyers are provided with side-by-side information on estate agents and conveyancers, including their track record and expertise, alongside new mandatory qualifications and Code of Practice to drive up standards and work to rebuild trust in the industry.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer took to Twitter this morning to address the proposed new homebuying overhaul, commenting: “I promised that my Government would fix the broken housing system.
“Buying or selling a home will be faster, unlocking the dream of homeownership and allowing hardworking people to focus on the next chapter of their lives. That’s national renewal.”
I promised that my government would fix the broken housing system.
Buying or selling a home will be faster, unlocking the dream of homeownership and allowing hardworking people to focus on the next chapter of their lives.
Georgina Pellant -
8th March 2022 
