Aerial Extreme outdoor ropes courses are now open seven days of the week for the 2008 season, offering the perfect outdoor leisure activity for the Easter holidays.

For all ages from six upwards (with a minimum height of 1.1m at Milton Keynes and Knowsley), Aerial Extreme is ideal for any ability and age. Open from 10am until 4pm (and 7pm from April), the course is packed with dozens of obstacles from 10 to 40ft tight ropes, zip lines, cargo nets and ‘wobbly leg’ poles, offering the perfect outdoor adventure course for novice adventurers and adrenalin junkies alike.

Site managers at each site will be on hand throughout the Easter period, they said: "There is no better outdoor leisure activity in the area that gives both adults and children a fun and challenging experience. Each obstacle is a different test mentally and physically that results in great personal satisfaction and achievement but ultimately it’s a great way to have fun.”

Customers can pre-book a space on the course or simply visit the site on the day.

Aerial Extreme is inviting animal enthusiasts to jump in with both feet and support a major new fundraising drive to save the world’s frogs.

The adventure ropes course is organising a sponsored Big Leap from its 40-foot-high tower on leap year day, Friday February 29th between 10am and 3pm, as part of the international Amphibian Ark campaign. Organisers are encouraging people to raise a minimum of £20 sponsorship to ‘take the Big Leap’ with all proceeds going straight to charity.

Campaign organisers have designated 2008 as the Year of the Frog and recruited Sir David Attenborough as their patron to raise awareness of the current plight of frogs and toads worldwide. Experts believe that after thriving for 350 million years, up to half of all amphibian species could die out in the near future – the earth’s single largest mass extinction since the disappearance of the dinosaurs.

As with other animals, amphibians are severely affected by habitat loss, climate change, pollution and pesticides, as well as by over-collection for use as food or pets. However, the most urgent problem facing frogs and toads is chytrid fungus, a disease that is deadly to amphibians which has been spreading from Africa across the planet over the last 50 years.

In the wild, chytrid fungus is unstoppable and untreatable. In the environments where it thrives it can kill 80 per cent of amphibians within months, which has already resulted in widespread extinctions.

Now Amphibian Ark campaigners want to raise £25 million to rescue endangered frogs and place them in ‘protective custody’ in hundreds of zoos and aquariums around the world to ensure their long-term survival.

Site managers at Aerial Extreme, saw the natural link between the course’s big drop and the charity. They said: "We’re delighted to be doing our bit to support this important campaign and we hope visitors will give generously to support our fundraising activity in support of this very good cause.

“Frogs and toads are extraordinary animals but without immediate conservation action hundreds of species could die out within the next few years. The Big Leap has been organised as a high-profile way of raising awareness of the Amphibian Ark and to raise much-needed funds for the campaign.”

To take part in The Big Leap or for more information, contact Aerial Extreme on 0870 850 2808 or email Kelly@aerialextreme.co.uk.
The Big Leap will take place at Willen Lake, Trentham Estate and the Knowsley Safari Park sites.

Blind children tackled planks and tightropes 40 feet up in the air last week. Aerial Extreme made it possible using vocal commands.

Thirty children, all members of charity Visually Impaired Children Taking Action (VICTA), came with their guardians for a free session.

They were given the option of either the ‘budding extremist’ or ‘extremist’ courses, which span over 300 metres in total and include zip wires, balance beams and giant spider webs.
The first first is 20 feet high and the second is 40 feet high. There is also a voluntary 40ft drop that gives the sense of free falling and brings people to a gradual soft landing.
It uses a state-of-the-art, unique safety system that never requires you to clip and unclip from your safety line. So far 30,000 people have used it.

Aerial Extreme general manager Simon House said: "what many people do not realise is that Aerial Extreme is a course for everyone of all abilities and ages but it ultimately challenges people both physically and mentally at the same time as being great fun. We have been in discussions with VICTA for a few weeks and wanted to demonstrate our great leisure facility and how it can build confidence, encourage team work and offer an exciting outdoor adventure for all”.

VICTA provides support for visually impaired children and their families.

Management have confirmed they will be working with organisers of VICTA to help raise their profle and look to support in any forthcoming fundraising activies.
Mr House said: "We hope people will be inspired by the children from VICTA and decide to take their own Aerial Extreme challenge.”