A short TikTok video has racked up over a million views this week, and it’s letting people into one of Alton Towers’ best-kept secrets: The Staffordshire-based theme park has a ‘tree top’ rule.
If you’re unsure of what that rule actually means at first glance, then you’re definitely not the only one. Judging by the rising number of views, it doesn’t appear to have been something on the radar of many thrill-seekers until it was brought to our attention thanks to Theme Park Faulk on TikTok.
The short clip posted to the video sharing platform briefly explains the rule specifically applies to the designing and building process of roller coasters.
Some of the theme park’s largest and most popular rides have had to take the rule into account over the years, and it’s one that requires consultation when any new attractions are built.
“Did you know that Alton Towers can’t build any attractions that are taller than the tree height?” the video explains.
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“This is why rides such as Oblivion and Nemesis are built into the ground.”
Explaining why this is the case and what the reasoning is behind the rule, Theme Park Faulk then goes on to say that it’s so “local residents are unable to see track from the roller coasters”.
The rule has been confirmed as true by the designer of some of the park’s most famous roller coasters.
Speaking to Birmingham Live back in 2015 about the build process for Nemesis – which was completed and opened in 1994 – John Wardley explained his vision of what a theme park should be like, and how that led to him revamping and re-theming existing areas within the Alton Towers grounds for “big thrill” rides in an attempt to make it world famous.
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But when phase one of the planning was complete, John encountered a new challenge: “We were instructed to keep everything below the height of the existing tree levels to keep in with the surroundings.
“We quickly realised that we couldn’t go up [and] we needed to be creative due to the planning restrictions, so we built down instead.”
Nemesis was the first roller coaster in the world to suspended riders underneath the track / Credit: Alton Towers
When a huge hole had been dug into the ground, that’s when John designed Nemesis – a rollercoaster that suspended riders underneath the track, rather than riding on top.
It was the first roller coaster in the world to do so, and now many others have followed.
The so-called ‘tree top’ rule is required to be adhered to each time Alton Towers adds a new ride to the attraction, but it isn’t one that’s been widely welcomed by theme park fans over the years.
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A poll on the Attraction Source Forum all the way back in 2008 revealed 39% of voters were unsatisfied with the restrictions and felt the rule would hold the park back from its UK competitors.
35% were on board.
What’s your take on it all?
Featured Image – Alton Towers
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Stockport County’s Christmas dinner in a cup returns for 2025 as part of new festive food range
Danny Jones
We can’t believe it’s rolled around again already, but with the festive period well underway and the big day just a few weeks away, Stockport County have brought back their viral ‘Xmas dinner in a cup’for 2025.
Better still, the County Courtyard has seen some new Christmas specials added to its food menu, too.
The local football club are absolutely flying in League One at the moment, having spent plenty of time at the top of the table already and still well and truly contesting those promotion/play-off spots.
If you’re a Stopfordian, that’s plenty of cause for celebration right there, but with the Christmas dinner in a cup also up for grabs once more, the holiday season literally couldn’t taste any better right now.
For those who’ve never seen it before, it’s exactly what it says on the tin – well, cup: a little Sunday dinner in a County-branded takeaway coffee cup, complete with a healthy pour of gravy and pretty much all the trimmings you could hope for.
Yes, including sprouts, because all of you who still don’t touch them need to grow up already.
Currently priced at just £4.50, not only does it contain virtually all the major food groups (barring the customary matchday pints, of course), it might just be one of the healthiest and best value-for-money bits of footy scran around – certainly in Greater Manchester, anyway.
But, as mentioned, that’s not all this year; Stockport are also serving up the new festive hot dog and even a ‘leftover Christmas curry’ in a bowl, which might even be more warming on a cold night at Edgeley Park than the Xmas dinner in a cup or clinging onto a flask of Bovril.
Anyone else craving that curry with a cheeky bit of bubble and squeak now?
It’s also worth noting that you’ll only be able to get one of those on Boxing Day, by the way, when the Hatters host Lincoln City in the league.
As for the rest of it, County fans can get their hands on this seasonal scran for the first time this year at the weekend when Dave Challinor’s side take on Barnsley at 12:30pm, and two of the three specials will then be served at home every game over the holiday period.
Speaking of random Christmas food creations, there’s another limited-time-only and potentially divisive example that we’ll also be sampling this December…
Aldi has launched the world’s first lickable pigs in blankets wrapping paper… for some reason
Emily Sergeant
Aldi has launched its latest Christmas creation, and this one’s arguably wackier than anything else it’s brought out before.
There’s absolutely no denying that pigs in blankets are a staple of festive feasting, with millions of the little delicacies consumed throughout the UK each Christmas, but have you ever wished you could turn the taste of those pigs in blankets into a lickable wrapping paper to wrap all this year’s gifts in? Yeah probably not… Aldi‘s made it though.
It’s anticipated that more than 561 million pigs in blankets are going to be eaten over the festive period, new research has found, which is an average of 10 per person.
But if you just can’t bare to leave the taste of pigs in blankets behind, Aldi’s new wrapping paper is set to give shoppers a fun and tasty twist when it comes to gift-giving.
The limited-edition wrapping paper is inspired by Aldi’s very-own range of pigs in blankets, and is described as capturing the smoky, savoury flavour and smell of the festive treat, with stickers that peel back to reveal a truly unique ‘lickable’ experience.
Aldi has launched the world’s first lickable pigs in blankets wrapping paper / Credit: Simon Jacobs/PA Wire (via Aldi UK)
Not only does the novelty wrapping paper taste and smells like pigs in blankets, it also looks the part on presents too with its pastel pink design, festive holly, and snowflake patterns.
“Pigs in Blankets are a highlight of the festive season… so we wanted to create something special to celebrate the Christmas classic,” commented Julie Ashfield, who is the Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK, as the new creation launches.
“This unique, lickable wrapping paper is the perfect way to spread extra joy on Christmas Day.”
Want to get your hands on it then? Unfortunately, it won’t be as simple as popping to your nearest Aldi store and picking up a roll, as with a creation as unique as this, there’s only going to be limited stock and a special shopper competition to win it.
To be in with a chance of winning, you simply need to email [email protected] with your full name before the deadline at 11:59pm on 1 December.
Emily Sergeant -
16th June 2021 
