Spectacular The Croods 2: A New Age inspired treehouse unveiled at Idle Valley Nature Reserve
School girl’s winning design is brought to life in Retford for generations to enjoy
Eight-year-old Lottie Brown designed her dream treehouse as part of a competition to celebrate the release of the new epic adventure film in association with Co-op Insurance and Neighbourhood Watch.
Young people in Retford, Nottinghamshire, now have a brand-new community treehouse, situated in Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s Idle Valley Nature Reserve – all thanks to a schoolgirl from York and new film The Croods 2: A New Age.
Judges crowned Lottie as the overall winner because of her imaginative and inclusive design, which features a hotel for bugs, ‘kindness rocks,’ and interactive games for children to enjoy. The treehouse has now been brought to life in Retford for youngsters all over the region to enjoy for many years to come.
The Croods 2: A New Age has community at its core, telling the story of two families uniting and realising that life is better when people support each other, embrace their differences, and forge a future together. In their first meeting, the Croods are astounded, not only by the fact they are not the only family in existence, but by the incredible treehouse in which the Betterman’s live.
This month, Lottie saw her design come to life at the nature reserve, when she was invited to cut the ribbon and be the first person to play on the treehouse with her best friend, Millie.
On the day, Lottie was led down a red carpet and received a personal congratulatory message from the film’s director, Joel Crawford.
Lottie said: “I loved the first Croods movie, so I was really excited to get to draw my own treehouse. I’m even more excited now as my treehouse is actually real for other children to play on. It’s amazing! I’ve asked my teachers if we can go on a school trip to Idle Valley so that all my friends can play on it.”
The treehouse is located close to the visitor carpark, and further development work on the play area is planned in the coming months for visiting families to enjoy.
Charles Offord, Managing Director of Co-op Insurance said: “The quality of the designs submitted were simply incredible. Young people across the nation really got creative, and we’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who entered the competition.
Lottie’s impressive treehouse is there to be enjoyed by visitors to Idle Valley Nature Reserve and the local community for many years to come. At the Co-op, community lies at the heart of everything we stand for, and it was a pleasure to be involved in this project alongside Neighbourhood Watch, the Wildlife Trust and of course The Croods!”
John Hayward-Cripps, CEO of Neighbourhood Watch said: “We are so impressed with Lottie’s well thought out treehouse, and we look forward to seeing it bring people together and strengthen community spirit.
As a charity, Neighbourhood Watch is all about being neighbourly and community-focused and we hope this initiative opens more opportunities to involve children in coming up with inclusive ways to unite communities.”
DreamWorks Animation’s The Croods 2: A New Age is in UK cinemas on 16th July 2021.
