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ROCKARTuk brings Children’s Planet to life at Flamingo Land, UK

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ROCKARTuk, experts in designing, building and installing themed environments have completed work on Children’s Planet at Flamingo Land, one of the UK’s most recognisable theme parks. 

Related: ROCKARTuk Company Profile / ROCKARTuk installs theming to Sidcup Mini Golf Centre / World’s Steepest Roller Coaster Opened at Flamingo Land Theme Park in England  

New for 2011, Children’s Planet combines an exciting adventure playground with an interactive animal exhibit, which includes meerkats, coatis, pigs and otters.  Flamingo Land has been particularly innovative in devising ways for visitors to get up-close to the animals, creating exhibits that combine fun with learning.  Visitors are encouraged to make like a meerkat and climb, crawl, roll and jump around the meerkat exhibit, even popping up inside viewing bubbles in the enclosures, to best appreciate these engaging animals at close quarters. 

Flamingo Land’s Chief Executive Gordon Gibb says, “We wanted to pull out all the stops to make Children’s Planet a really special place; somewhere that our visitors can learn about the animals and our conservation work in Africa, as well as of course having lots and lots of fun.  ROCKARTuk, with their attention to detail and creative flair, have taken our initial concept and worked with us to produce a finished exhibit that has exceeded our expectations.  Our investment in quality theming has really delivered for us”.

Tony Galer of ROCKARTuk says, “In terms of design it was an organic process, taking Flamingo Land’s original concept and working closely with the client and the other contractors to develop a really lovely natural-looking environment that compliments the animal exhibits and enhances the play areas”.  ROCKARTuk have built African huts, mud banks, aged timbers and rocks, each element hand carved and painted to give a beautiful finish.   But theming wasn’t the only consideration.  Galer explains, “It was quite an involved project.  We had to work closely with the animal specialists to make sure the enclosures were suitable habitats.  For example there couldn’t be any low relief carving for the meerkats: one leg up and the whole lot would escape!  It has been really rewarding to create enclosures that the animals feel at home in.”

Most importantly, the response from Flamingo Land visitors has been overwhelmingly positive:

  • “That is quite simply fantastic! The detail on those rocks, walls and buildings is outstanding.”
  • “That is some awesome theming! Very high standards.” 
  • “That is so impressive; Flamingo Land theming is getting better and better.”

About ROCKARTuk 

ROCKARTuk are experts in designing, building and installing themed environments, providing consultancy, feasibility studies and master-planning for all visitor attractions.  Incorporating innovative twists and ideas within the design phases, and keeping quality at the forefront of each project, ROCKARTuk are able to supply complete ‘turn-key’ solutions for theme parks, water parks, aquariums, family entertainment centres, museums and heritage sites, indoor black light and outdoor mini golf venues, safari parks and zoos.  Over the past 12 years Tony Galer (owner of ROCKARTuk) has been involved in over 35 major theming projects across the world.  At present ROCKARTuk are actively producing themed attractions in Nigeria, Qatar & the UK.

About Flamingo Land

Flamingo Land is one of the UK’s most recognisable theme parks, providing family fun and entertainment for over 40 years.  Flamingo Land was the first attraction in Europe where visitors could visit a theme park & zoo at one site.  Over the last 40 years Flamingo Land has developed a theme park to meet the needs of families, focusing on providing a ride or rollercoaster for everyone.   The theme park boasts over 50 rides and roller coasters of all sizes.  For the thrill seekers there are the Cliff Hanger, Corkscrew and Flip Flop, and the Mumbo Jumbo is the world’s steepest rollercoaster.  For the younger members of the family, there are junior coasters, the Frog Hopper and Junior Carousels.

The zoo at Flamingo Land boasts an amazing array of animals from around the world: African lions, giraffes, hippo’s and rhinocerous, South American penguins, flamingos, guanaco, vicugna and tapir, tigers, chimpanzees, baboons and kangaroos.  There is the reptile house, the UK’s only ‘Parrot sphere’ and a great Sealion show.

Located in the idyllic North Yorkshire countryside, Flamingo Land is a fabulously well planned, well loved and well themed attraction that ROCKARTuk is proud to have worked with.

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