FAMILIES and young adventurers flocked to Parndon Wood Nature Reserve on Easter Saturday for a magical “Alice in Wonderland” interactive themed experience, that transformed the woodland into a curious and captivating world of imagination.

Run by the local community group, Plant Pots and Wellies, Down the Rabbit Hole – An Easter Adventure in Wonderland, welcomed visitors from 12–1pm for a relaxed hour for visitors with additional needs, followed by general admission throughout the afternoon. The immersive experience proved to be a resounding success, delighting children and adults alike with its creative storytelling and interactive challenges.

A dedicated cast of 17 actors brought Wonderland to life, filling the woodland with laughter and fun. Guests were invited to step into this whimsical world, where something had gone mysteriously awry. Alice wanted an easter egg, but the White Rabbit kept on running away. She needed help to discover the hidden words needed to find the White Rabbit and visitors eagerly took on the challenge. Families journeyed through the woodland, encountering a host of peculiar and beloved characters along the way.

Among those spotted were Alice herself, the eccentric Mad Hatter, March Hare and Dormouse at their Unbirthday tea party, the formidable Queen of Hearts demanding red roses, and the mischievous Cheshire Cat whose riddles were very silly! Each character presented visitors with clues essential to solving the Easter mystery, but not without first enlisting a bit of help from participants. From solving riddles to completing small tasks such as making a hedgehog or helping the mock turtle stop crying, children embraced the opportunity to interact with each of the characters.

As clues were gathered, excitement built toward the final moment: presenting findings to the White Rabbit. Those who successfully pieced together the mystery were rewarded with a well-earned Easter egg, much to the delight of everyone.

Rowen Saunders from Plant Pots and Wellies said “We wanted to create something truly immersive where children could step into a story and become part of it. Seeing so many families exploring, laughing and engaging with the characters has been incredibly rewarding. The support from our actors and all the team, really brought Wonderland to life.”

One parent commented, “I struggle to find anything that is suitably fun for my four year olds while equally being something my 13 year old will enjoy but this was it! He was skeptical at first but I think the turtle and tweedledee and dum won him over! By the time we got to the mad hatters table he was eager to find an ‘ornament’ to impress the hare with! My twins giggled throughout at the characters and loved the crafts they had to do to get their stamps.

My son and I found it hilariously comical, the characters were all so brilliant! Massive well done, we all genuinely had so much fun and spent so much longer there than we expected because we were just enjoying the experience so much! The fact there was a dairy free option for my twins at the end too was perfect. I was thoroughly impressed from start to finish! 

Students from the Level 2 Diploma in Art and Design at Harlow College designed and created a variety of hats that were also on display

With its mixture of storytelling, outdoor adventure, crafts and fun through the impressive cast, the Wonderland Easter event at Parndon Wood has been widely hailed as a memorable highlight of the holiday weekend, leaving many hoping for a return trip down the rabbit hole next year.