Norfolk's wooden wonderland

12:57pm Sunday 11th May 2008

IMAGINE you're sitting on a log in a woody glade. The sun glinting through the trees makes you feel sleepy and you close your eyes, only to be jolted back to reality by the exicted cries of Cubs and Brownies ready to tackle their next adventure.

Sounds like a scene from a Enid Blyton book? Well, BeWILDerwood, aka A Curious Treehouse Adventure, is a delightful throwback to the days when kids made their own entertainment and didn't rely on DVDs and PS2s.

Set in the Norfolk Broads, BeWILDerwood is the brainchild of Tom Blofeld.

This gregarious, ever smiling chap with typically English eccentric dress sense, has turned 50 acres into a kids' paradise with treehouses, zip wires, boat trips, jungle bridges and marsh walks.

He's also written an accompanying children's book, A Boggle at BeWILDerwood, depicting the weird and wonderful characters that populate the woods. Children can experience the book through the park and follow in the footsteps of lead character Swampy, a 2ft-high marsh boggle.

Joining Swampy in the undergrowth is ThornyClod the giant spider, Tree Twiggles and a Witch. Mildred the 14ft-long Crocklebog is also a firm favourite, emerging from the Scary Lake to greet arrivals with the aid of laser technology.

The park has attracted thousands of visitors since it opened last May and new this year is Toddlewood, an imaginative play area for under fives.

Five-year-old Nicholas, hotly pursued by aunty Andrea (age withheld), was in his element, whooshing down slides, scrambling up ladders and running over wooden bridges.

I must have yelled: "Shall we have a break for something to eat now?" about 20 times before he finally agreed to sit down.

As you'd expect, the food on offer at three catering outlets is all good, wholesome stuff. You can get a hot dog if you fancy it, but burgers and chips have been spurned in favour of savoury tarts, sandwiches and tasty tray bake cakes.

Locally produced ice cream is on sale too, which came in handy when we emerged from the woods into beautiful sunshine.

BeWILDerwood is located on the A1062 Horning Road, 15 minutes from Norwich. It is open until November 2.

For details of admission prices and opening hours, call 01603 783900 or visit www.BeWILDerwood.co.uk

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