Jungle adventure plan for Croxteth Hall

Dec 14 2007 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

A NEW high wire adventure centre is to be created in one of Liverpool’s favourite parks next year.

Leading European outdoor activity company Jungle Parcs is behind the plan to install aerial walkways and platforms in about one hectare of Croxteth Hall and Country Park.

The company already runs eight sites in France and Spain, and hopes that its Liverpool base will be its flagship venue for the UK.

Liverpool City Council is yet to approve planning permission for the trail in an area of the Potters Plantation part of the park.

But the council’s executive board is expected to rubber stamp a rental agreement that will see Jungle Parc pay £500 rent for its first year, and 10% of income thereafter.

In June, Knowsley Safari Park opened a similar course.

“It should be open for Easter,” said Maria Reynolds, director of Jungle Parc UK, which has its offices in Birkenhead. “It will be an amazing location in Croxteth Park.”

The activity centre is designed for all ages from four years upwards.

Adults will be able to traverse heights of up to 40ft to swing, climb and balance between trees in the park’s woodland.

“Safety is paramount to us, everyone is harnessed in and given full training before they start.

“Our company has been running for nearly 10 years, and in all this time we have not had one accident.”

Jungle Parcs centres are accredited by the European Ropes Course Association.

Miss Reynolds, 26, became involved in Jungle Parc when she met her boyfriend Julien Appino who was one of the founders of the company.

Mr Appino and Denis Capel opened their first high wire centre in the small French town of Barcelonnette in the Alps in 1998.

The centre in Barcelonnete is currently the company’s largest with 120 aerial platforms.

“Jungle Parc in Liverpool is going to be our flagship park in England; it will expand to be a similar size.”

Miss Reynolds said between 60 and 70 platforms joined with walkways made of steel and timber.

She said the company will invest between £70,000 and £80,000 in the site to install the required equipment.

The company is anticipating between 6,000 and 7,000 visitors in the first year.

davidbartlett