Wednesday, 22 May 2013

Gruffalo Hunting - Thorndon Country Park

At 18 months old Ethan discovered The Gruffalo. It started with the book, which led to even more books, toys and even games. 

The Gruffalo was Ethan's first obsession, at it's height we could easily read this book to him all day if we aloud it. My new party trick was to recite this book word for word. 

With all of Ethan's obsessions we do indulge them as its nice to have something to enjoy, and connect with him. 

Last year I noticed that some of my facebook friends were posting pictures of themselves with a Gruffalo and with the realisation my Dad knew where the Gruffalo was, we set off to find him. 

Armed with the map provided we started our search and easily found the mouse.

Gruffalo Hunting - Thorndon Country Park

Gruffalo Hunting - Thorndon Country Park

Next it was time to find the main man himself, The Gruffalo. Ethan recognised him right away and ran around him in circles. 

As Ethan looked at the gruffalo I recited the words from the book. 

He has terrible tusks, and terrible claws, and terrible teeth in his terrible jaws. 

Gruffalo Hunting - Thorndon Country Park

He has knobbly knees, and turned-out toes,
and a poisonous wart at the end of his nose. 
His eyes are orange, his tongue is black, he has purple prickles all over his back. 

Gruffalo Hunting - Thorndon Country Park

Gruffalo Hunting - Thorndon Country Park


Oh help! Oh no! It's a gruffalo!


Gruffalo Hunting - Thorndon Country Park

Finally we set off to find the gruffalo's child. He was harder to find but we found him in the end...

Gruffalo Hunting - Thorndon Country Park

Gruffalo Hunting - Thorndon Country Park

We had a lovely afternoon in the park and as Darren was at work the day we visited he promised he would take us again. 

Fast forward to this year and I had noticed, again from facebook, that more of the characters had been added so it was time for us to visit again. 

This year you had to pay 50p for the map as they must have been printing so many for the visitors that want to go gruffalo hunting.  

As with last year the mouse was the first character to find. Ethan had just woken up from a sleep at this point, so wasn't very happy to be gruffalo hunting and wanted to go back to the car!

Gruffalo Hunting - Thorndon Country Park

Gruffalo Hunting - Thorndon Country Park

With the mouse found and Ethan happier we set off to find the fox. He was very good at hiding and it took us some time but we finally found his hiding spot.   


Gruffalo Hunting - Thorndon Country Park

Gruffalo Hunting - Thorndon Country Park

With the fox checked off of the list we then had to find the owl. Thankfully he was easy to spot.

Gruffalo Hunting - Thorndon Country Park

The snake was next and we spent most of our time with him as Ethan really interacted with him. 


Gruffalo Hunting - Thorndon Country Park

Gruffalo Hunting - Thorndon Country Park

Gruffalo Hunting - Thorndon Country Park

Gruffalo Hunting - Thorndon Country Park

Gruffalo Hunting - Thorndon Country Park



After Ethan had enough time with the snake it was time to find the gruffalo's child. He had been moved to a spot that was easier to find.  

Gruffalo Hunting - Thorndon Country Park

Lastly it was time to say hello to the main man himself...


Gruffalo Hunting - Thorndon Country Park

...I love that Ethan is holding his hand in this photo, I didn't even realise until I looked back through the photos. 

Gruffalo Hunting - Thorndon Country Park

We had another lovely morning gruffalo hunting. We visited the park early as it was a weekend, my advise to anyone wishing to visit at the weekend would be go early as there are lots of people gruffalo hunting.
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