Where will the pirates of the trees meet the ships of the desert? And where can you get the chance to be shipwrecked on a dream desert island, dally with dinosaurs and walk with wild wolves?
Surprises galore plus the chance to take part in a national reality TV challenge await visitors to next month’s Royal Bath & West Show (June 1-4).
The pirates of the trees are the Tree Pirates, the UK’s Number One Chainsaw Sculpture Team, who will be demonstrating their cutting-edge skills down in the Woodland and Wildlife zone throughout all four days of the Show, sponsored by EDF Energy, at the Bath & West Showground from June 1st to 4th.
Highlight of their demonstrations will be the construction of a mighty wooden gryphon – the mythical winged monster with an eagle-like head and the body of a lion. The 15 foot high creature with a 30 foot wing span will be transported to nearby Worthy Farm after the show to have pride of place at this year’s Glastonbury Festival. The Farm already boasts the Tree Pirates’ highly acclaimed giant 35 foot high scorpion constructed for last year’s Festival while Wookey Hole down the road is home to their four ton Dragon Seat, a Witch’s Hat Pagoda and a fairytale bridge.
Meanwhile further into the woods the ships of the desert will be camels who will be joining their llama cousins for some trekking expeditions through the forest. Show-goers will be able to lead the llamas through the trees and there will even be the opportunity for youngsters to ride a camel under the careful supervision of owner Alastair Fraser and his team from Servernwye Llamas and Camels.
And highlight of the Woodland and Wildlife area will be the incredible opportunity to meet and greet wild wolves. The UK Wolf Conservation Trust will be bringing a trio of wolves to the Show in a bid to dispel the fears, myths and conceptions that surround these beautiful animals and raise funds for wild wolf conservation projects around the world.
The three North European wolves will be kept in a safe, controlled and secure enclosure. Trained wolf handlers will answer questions from the public and there will be opportunities to meet and greet the animals, and even stroke them.
Meanwhile the producers of the popular Channel 4 programme “Shipwrecked” will be targetting fit youngsters with personality and aged between 18-23 to compete in their next series. The lucky 30 selected from entrants across the country will be shipwrecked on Cooks Island in the South Pacific and survive for five months in the experience of a lifetime with a cash prize at the end.