Category Archives: Guest Bloggers

Children with Special Needs Have a Great Time at Diggerland Theme Park!

Around 8% of children in the UK have special needs, including learning difficulties, hearing impairment, visual impairment, physical disabilities, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

If you have a child with special needs then you may wonder if they would enjoy a day out at Diggerland. This fun park has a host of facilities aimed at making a visit easier and more practical – including parking, and free entrance for carers of disabled visitors.

This means that if your child loves nothing more than playing with toy diggers and dreams of being able to drive or ride in a real-life digger, then taking them to Diggerland Theme Park may just become their favourite activity!

Children with Wheelchairs

It is easy to get around Diggerland if your child has a wheelchair. Most surfaces comprise tarmac and gravel and entryways are wide enough to easily negotiate.

You can leave your wheelchair on terra firma while your child is enjoying an amazing ride alongside you in a digger. Some machines are easier to access than others and you will need to lift or assist your child yourself.

Moreover, not all machines are ideal so it is important to be flexible with the type of activity you choose. The good news is that most diggers are operated using hand controls only and these do not require great power to handle.

Catering to Different Needs

Children with ASD can be very much into specific toys and if cars and diggers are their thing, then they may ask you for a ride almost immediately. However, children who are sensitive to motor sounds may not wish to climb up on a digger, in which case you should ideally bring safe toys your child loves so they can keep entertained.

Ensuring they have age-appropriate toys that are shatter-proof and don’t contain sharp edges is a good idea when you are visiting Diggerland as a group. If you are visiting the park with your partner and other kids, for instance, they can enjoy an active ride while children who prefer with their own toys stay focused on carrying out familiar activities.

Finding a Ride Your Child Enjoys

For a super fun experience at Diggerland, let your child lead the way in terms of the activities he or she chooses.

Kids who love being in the company of other little ones will love the sound of laughter and elation at rides like the Groundshuttle, in which all they have to do is sit back while the driver takes them on a fun-filled adventure.

Those who prefer to be with parents and other people they already know might opt for a safari ride to view the beautiful natural surroundings.

Children who normally get around on wheelchairs may love controlling a digger while digging for Buried Treasure using a Komatsu PC14 mini digger. This activity takes loads of concentration and is ideal for children who are goal-oriented.

Diggerland Theme Park offers a fun day out for adults and kids alike, with so many activities to partake in.

There are many areas in the park in which you can relax, too, so children who aren’t into rides can play with their favorite toy while siblings are digging up land or finding treasure. The key to making the most of a visit is to go with an open mind and to let your child define their own idea of fun.

Amazing And Surprising Facts About Diggers

At Diggerland Theme Park, we just absolutely dig learning!

Did you know that around £5m worth of diggers are buried beneath countless swimming pools and basement conversions in the West of London?

This phenomenon occurred in the early 1990s, when property developers decided that ‘burying a digger in its own hole’ was a great way to momentarily (or permanently) put these machines to rest after a million-pound project was completed. This is just one of many anecdotes about diggers and the big role they play in British life and industry.

Read on to discover more fascinating facts about these classic machines and feel more inspired than ever to drive one all on your own at Diggerland Theme Park.

Diggers And Railways

Did you know that the origins of diggers can be traced back to the late 18th century? The original excavator was the steam shovel, created by William Otis. This visionary used chains, pulleys and gears to provide the power required to dig through the earth.

This machine was developed to deal with demands posed by the railway industry, which was thriving at this time. In 1951, the French took the lead, creating excavators made with newer hydraulic technology – which was far more efficient and easy to maintain.

Diggers Are Ultra-Powerful

If you ever wondered to what extent diggers can speed construction work up, it is estimated that they can work as fast as 20 manual labourers put together. In fact, newer, more powerful models can work even faster.

A recent project in Bedford showed that one excavator was able to complete an entire project in around two and a half hours; three manual labourers took two days to complete only a fifth of the work.

Diggers Have Caught Up With The Autonomous Craze

Drivers who are into vehicle maintenance and developments know that one of the biggest crazes to hit the industry, is that of autonomous vehicles. A plethora of companies – including Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, and Nissan, are working on making car ownership easier and safer than in the past, thanks to self-driving features.

New diggers are boasting similar technology to those found in these cars. Built Robotics has developed a kit that fits existing construction equipment with GPS, WiFi and lidar to enable diggers to autonomously map and navigate their surroundings. The new tech will enable drivers to oversee various fleets at once, thus making it possible to meet deadlines quicker.

Diggers Can Be Huge

You might be surprised to know how heavy diggers can be. One of the heaviest in the world is the Bucyrus RH400/Terex RH 400, which weighs an impressive 980 tonnes! This is followed by the Hitachi EX8000-6, weighing in at 837 tonnes, and the Liebherr R9800, whose weight stands at 810 tonnes. Mini diggers, meanwhile, can weigh a little over 615 kg.

If you want to know what it feels like to drive a digger, there could be no better place to start than at Diggerland Theme Park. The power of even the smallest diggers makes it easy to experience what working in construction could feel like. Feel their power by trying one out, whether you are a child or an adult who is fascinated by the history and technology behind the world’s most popular and useful diggers.

Enjoying your day out at Diggerland Theme Park

If you have motion sickness but you have always dreamed of manning your own digger, know that there are both natural and medical approaches that can ensure you have the time of your life at Diggerland Theme Park!

If you have motion sickness, then know that it is usually something that passes, and that sometimes, it just involves feeling a little dizzy for a couple of minutes.

Motion sickness is not actually a disease; it is no more than a normal response to, because there is a difference between what we are focusing on (a fixed point in our environment) and the movement of our vehicle.

Kids and Women can be more prone to Motion Sickness

Motion sickness is rare in toddlers. In fact, it reaches its peak by the age of 12, declining between 12 and 21.

At Diggerland Theme Park, children from the age of two to sixteen or seventeen can drive a digger, so by this time they should be just fine.

Also, if by any chance they feel like enjoying another activity, they will be happy to know that there are many rides and activities to choose from. There is a sizeable indoor play area featuring slides, bouncy castles, arcade games, and more.

Preventing Motion Sickness at Diggerland Theme Park

Battling nausea and wooziness while travelling is important if the journey is to be enjoyed. One way to do so is through prevention. Researchers at Siena College found that feeling stressed can make you feel more symptoms of motion sickness.

Children can benefit from knowing that although riding a digger at Diggerland Theme Park is a different experience, they can feel more in control if they drive the digger themselves.

They should know what to expect, but be encouraged to take a chilled out stance to any potential symptoms. They should know that they can simply get off if they are feeling a tiny bit dizzy, and take place in a plethora of other activities with their siblings and parents.

Natural Approaches to Motion Sickness

Some natural methods people use to quell motion sickness include consuming ginger (in the form of a ginger ‘shot’ or by chewing on candied ginger). A ginger shot can be a little too strong for younger children, but older teens will probably enjoy naturally squeezed ginger juice blended with orange juice, or a cup of tea that has been infused with ginger.

Acupressure has been found to be useful for nausea, meanwhile. A study by researchers at the Center for Advancing Health found that stimulating an acupoint on the wrist can help reduce this symptom of motion sickness. To be precise, pressure should be applied to the pericardium (P6) point, located around two inches from the base of the palm, on the inner side of the wrist.

Use your thumb to apply gentle pressure to this spot, and make sure you target both wrists. Eating a small amount of food can also be helpful, so give your child a healthy snack a few minutes before they get on the digger. Ensure the snack isn’t heavy or greasy so it does not strain their digestive system.

What about Medication?

For people that have serious motion sickness, doctors sometimes describe medications like Dramamine, which is safe for children aged two and above.

In some cases, medications for motion sickness can cause drowsiness. Therefore, the decision of whether or not to give these should be taken after discussion with a paediatrician.

Keeping stress down and expectations realistic will help stave off symptoms, and you should also try natural remedies such as ginger. Finally, remember to bring light, healthy, sugar- and fat-free snacks that will help ensure your child enjoys his or her first digger drive to the full!

If you are planning a visit to Diggerland Theme Park, know that there are so many activities available that kids or parents with motion sickness should know that they will have a good time.

Christmas Day is one of those wonderful – yet slightly stressful – days of the year. As well as scouting out the perfect turkey or trying to come up with original, thoughtful gifts (we’d recommend our Christmas gift vouchers if you’re stuck for ideas!), there’s the small matter of hosting – a responsibility that a fair few people shy away from.  

In fact, a recent campaign carried out by retailer Next found that in December 2018, 110 people Googled the phrase “how to tell family you’re not hosting Christmas” – an increase of 100% from the year before. 

Aside from all things dinner-related like portion sizes, setting the table and making sure everybody’s got enough to eat, there’s also the small matter of entertaining the children – who, by about midday, are likely to be hyped up on sugar and presents. 

We’ve put together a couple of tips to help your Christmas Day run smoothly.

Tip 1: Decide when to open presents

Present etiquette can be hard to get right. Do you open in the morning or the afternoon? Pre-dinner or post-dinner? What if you’ve already opened your gifts but your guests and their children haven’t? 

To avoid any unnecessary tears and restlessness on the part of the little ones, establish when gift-giving will take place ahead of the big day. That way, you’re all aligned and each child can open his/her presents at the same time as the others. 

If you’re stuck for gifting ideas, we’d recommend going for an experience rather than a product or toy that’ll likely be tossed to the side in a couple of years. Our gift vouchers allow entry into the Diggerland adventure park with access to all rides and drives for the day – perfect for adults and children alike and a great way to encourage your kids to get out and about.

Tip 2: Stagger sugar consumption throughout the day

Christmas Day is a day of food, food, food (a lot of which is high in sugar!) which is why it’s a good idea to try and stagger your children’s sugar consumption throughout the day to avoid them becoming too hyper too soon. 

Try and shift their focus to something other than what they’re putting in their mouths – for example, by setting up an arts and crafts corner. There are plenty of printable materials available online and we recommend a Christmas card-related activity – great for any little ones that have forgotten to write mummy and daddy a card.

Tip 3: Set up activity stations

Although arts and crafts is a great way to fuel children’s creativity, it may be that some of your tinier guests are keener on getting out and about and moving around.

Try and schedule periods throughout the day when some of the adults can go for a wander and take the kids (those who want to go) with them. If you’re hosting and taking charge of the cooking, you might appreciate some of your guests disappearing for a little while, leaving you in peace to get on with dinner prep or clearing up. 

Similarly, some of the children might feel like watching a Christmas film. Set up a movie viewing area in the living room for those that feel like cuddling up and watching something.

By having lots of different activity stations, restlessness and possible tantrums become less likely. 

Tip 4: Consider investing in a kids’ table

Christmas Day is as much about the adults as it is about the children – and we know that many mums and dads yearn for a little bit of alone time.

To give the grown-ups some time to catch up, consider making one part of the dinner table specifically for the kids. Or, invest in a smaller, separate table if you have the space.

We hope we’ve given you some useful tips for hosting Christmas Day with family. Diggerland opens again in February (you can see the opening times here) – why not give the gift of an experience this Christmas and buy your family some of our gift vouchers? 

And if you’re curious to see how a celebrity like Emma Willis celebrates Christmas, have a look at her Christmas routine and traditions here.

We have compiled a list of ideas below on how Diggerland Theme Park can help turn your child’s bedroom into a magical, digger-themed world!

A recent survey commissioned by Next has found that parents’ most popular dream theme when decorating their children’s rooms is “Animal” followed by “Jungle/Forest”. 

But we know better than anyone that a lot of kids are very into diggers and JCBs, jumping at the chance to have a digger-themed space. But what does that look like, exactly?

Read on for some tips on digger-themed décor; what furnishings to go for, what colour scheme is best and what products we recommend for the ultimate digger fan.

Colours & Walls

When it comes to colour, we recommend opting for a yellowy/beige colour scheme to match the typical colour of diggers and JCBs.

In fact, nowadays over half of parents opt for neutral or bright colours like yellow, as opposed to traditional pinks and blues. In a shift away from traditional gendered colour schemes, 57% of parents prefer greys, yellows or other neutral shades to decorate a child’s room – according to Next’s survey. 

What’s more, yellow is “energising and uplifting” according to colour psychologist June McLeod, suggesting this particular scheme will have a positive impact on your little one’s mood. 

If you’re using paint, find one that’s free of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) as these can let off harmful gases. Alternatively, invest in some digger wall stickers (Pinterest has some great ideas for how these can be used to jazz up the décor). Wall stickers are great because they’re easy to apply and remove, and since parents redecorate their children’s rooms and nurseries every 23 months on average, it’s important to invest in décor that can be altered and changed with ease.

Toys & Stationery from Diggerland Theme Park

Just because the bulk of the room is likely to be more neutral doesn’t mean to say bright colours shouldn’t be present. We recommend introducing the full spectrum of colours via toys and furnishings. Young children love to play with colourful toys while older children tend to express themselves in many different ways with colour. What’s more, brightly coloured toys and equipment can be easily moved or stored away to create a more restful atmosphere for quieter times. 

Ultimately, toys are a fundamental part of a child’s room and make the space feel homey and personalised – and for digger fans, there’s a wealth to choose from. 

At Diggerland Theme Park, we’ve got teddy bears and soft digger toys to make those restless nights a little more bearable for your tots. Meanwhile, retro Top Trumps Adventure Days offers hours of weekend fun.  

If your child is in primary school, get them kitted out with digger-themed stationery. These may just make those projects and homework assignments slightly more fun and enjoyable!

Clothes

Update your child’s wardrobe with digger-themed clothes – this might make morning wardrobe battles a little more bearable! You can find a range of clothing options on both the Diggerland website and on Next too.

From wellies and socks to different types of tops, Next have the ultimate digger fan catered for – and their pieces will no doubt add a bit of colour to your child’s wardrobe. 

You can even create a personalised digger top (a great Christmas present for digger fans!) 

We hope we’ve given you some food for thought when it comes to decorating with the ultimate digger fan in mind.

Have a look at our Christmas Gift Vouchers and come and visit us at the Diggerland Theme Park in February!

We have invited the hotel deals website myhotelbreak.com to discuss why their guests love visiting Diggerland Theme Park. View what they said in our latest blog:

One of the great things about hotel getaways or holidays are having fantastic attractions near to where you’re staying. For our guests staying in our hotels in England, we highly recommend taking a day trip with the family to Diggerland Theme Park.

With locations in Kent, Devon, Durham and Yorkshire, this is a fantastic attraction for all the family.

Let’s find out more about this attraction…

If you want a day of adventure then look no further than Diggerland. The whole family can experience this unique Theme Park and create memories.  Here you can drive, operate and ride real diggers and a range of other full size construction machinery like dumpers. This is a fantastic and unique attraction if you and the kids want fun, excitement and somewhere that is full of action.

This attraction is perfect for all age groups (permitting height restrictions apply though) as it has over 20 rides, drives and other experiences to savour. From real JCB’s to the head reeling Spindizzy, or the 360 excavators. Experience the Skyshuttle and its views and then the off-roading Groundshuttle. Diggerland also has Dodgems and Go-Karts which are always a treat too.

What else should you experience?

• Stackattack
• Train
• Crazy Carts
• Dippy Ducks
• Dirt Digger
• Giant Diggers
• Joyrider

These are just some of the fun filled activities you and your loved ones can take part in. For more information please click here.

Create memories to take home

The parks all have a great Diggerland Goodie Store. Here you have an abundance of toys, merchandise and souvenirs to choose from. There are also cafes where you can kick back and relax and enjoy some down time after a day having fun.

What are the prices?

• Adults £19.95pp
• 65+ (ID needed) £9.95pp
• Groups of 10+ £16.99pp
• Children under 90cm go free

For the full pricing list click here.

This is a wonderful place if you’re looking for somewhere different to take the family. No matter where your hotel break takes you in England this year, enjoy a day out at Diggerland and explore the unexpected.

Bring Diggerland Home with These Fun Family Hobbies and Activities

From the go-karts to the rides and drives, Diggerland is a bucket of fun for the entire family. But what happens when the day is over and you return back to your homes? How do you take a piece of Diggerland with you and create fun family hobbies? Check out these activities that can keep the spirit of construction alive in your home.

Geocaching Is the New Treasure Hunt

If you’re looking to find new family hobbies to enjoy, look no further than geocaching. As a virtual treasure hunt, geocaching gets your children outside and playing in the dirt with an educational twist. You simply download the app on your phone and select a hidden cache that is close to your location. Then, you use GPS coordinates and clues to help you find a hidden treasure. You and your kids will love the thrill of finding these prizes through caves, waterfalls, and even your local grocery store. With geocaching, the entire world becomes your gameboard.

Building Blocks

Your child probably plays with Lego, but how about you enhance their experience and make their building blocks even larger. You can buy giant, life-sized blocks online or make your own, and encourage children to build their own creations. Sit down and start to design a blueprint before heading straight into construction and see how close you can get to your original design. Then at the end, be sure to knock the blocks down. It’s definitely the most fun part of building and will also allow you to start the fun all over again.

Train Collecting

If your child loved the train section of Diggerland, why not encourage them to start their own model train collection. Take your kid to the store and help him or her pick out a train that speaks to them. Then, pick out tracks and other items such as mountains, trees, and stores that can bring your town to life. You and your family can spend hours building these sets and when you’re bored with it, simply add on to your town or start a new one.

Build a Go-Kart

One of the best bonding experiences between a parent and their child is to build a go-kart together. You can find a design plan online, or start from scratch and use your own imagination. Your child will learn about the mechanics of the vehicle and the two of you will enjoy valuable family time. Take the project day by day, and work on it a little every day after school. This will make the project more worthwhile. However, when it’s complete, invite everyone out to test your vehicle and watch your kid’s face light up.

Just because you left Diggerland doesn’t mean all the fun has to stop. It’s so easy to find new and fun family hobbies; you can create similar construction and outdoor activities to keep the family entertained between visits to the park.