The Gruffalo celebrates his 20th birthday at Moors Valley (July 2019)

The Gruffalo celebrates his 20th birthday at Moors Valley (July 2019)

Moors Valley Country Park and Forest hosted a very special birthday party this weekend for The Gruffalo, the famous children’s book character created by Julia Donaldson.

This very special guest joined visitors for a birthday picnic and blew out the candles on his very own 20th birthday cake.

A host of free activities were on offer for the party goers including an opportunity to meet the Gruffalo, share some of his birthday cake and Gruffalo inspired face painting.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary, Forestry England has created a fun, free party pack full of forest activities and Gruffalo inspired picnic ideas. The top five recipe ideas include a Gruffalo crumble, mouse’s summer time treats, roast fox rolls, scrambled snake quiche and owl cupcakes.

The party pack also includes blank Gruffalo invitations so visitors can invite their family and friends, recommended party games such as ‘Pin the wart on the Gruffalo,’ and ‘What’s the time Mr Gruffalo,’ as well as different activity sheets to keep the children inspired during their time in the forest.

The Gruffalo has a permanent place in the Forest at Moors Valley. Nestled in the Forest Picnic Area is a life sized sculpture of the Gruffalo plus the Gruffalo’s child and many of the other characters from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s popular story books.

Linda Laker, Forestry England’s Recreation Manager for Dorset, said:

“The Gruffalo has a very special place here at Moors Valley and we are lucky enough to be one of the few places in the country that has a sculpture and woodland area dedicated to this much loved forest character. So we thought it only right that we throw a special party to celebrate his 20th birthday. Visitors to Moors Valley this summer can join in the celebrations by downloading their free Gruffalo party pack.”

The free Gruffalo Party Pack can be downloaded at www.forestryengland.uk/resource/Gruffalo-party-pack. It has all the ingredients that you need to host a monster party with your family and friends this summer!

ENDS
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Editor’s Notes

Susan Smith
Media Officer, Forestry England, South Forest District
Tel: 07384 878434
susan.smith@forestryengland.uk

Images
High resolution images of the Gruffalo’s 20th birthday party event at Moors Valley are available on request.