Rainforest Concern

Press Release: Rainforest Ventures Ltd

WELCOME TO THE BRIDGEND RAINFOREST

Rainforest Ventures Ltd. have announced that they expect to proceed with plans for a £45 Million Rainforest themed leisure development, near Bridgend, South Wales, in conjunction with Dragon Studios, during 2008.
 
The company is intending to develop a tropical rainforest visitor attraction and themed hotel adjoining film and television studios in a leisure park being built by Dragon Studios. Rainforest Ventures were invited by Lord Attenborough, Chairman of Dragon Studios to provide the anchor visitor attraction on the remediated site close to the M4 between Cardiff and Bridgend. Exploratory discussions with the Wales Assembly Government officials last year have indicated support and interest in the rainforest proposal.
 
Rainforest Ventures Ltd. have commissioned Gloucester based Limbrick Architecture & Design, to produce a high impact design for the proposed 100,000 sq ft enclosed tropical botanic attraction, and associated visitor centre and hotel. The Visitor Centre will have provision for exhibitions on climate change and rainforest conservation needs.  Limbrick Limited captured the essence of this unique and exciting proposal in their competition winning conceptual design, against stiff opposition from a number of other high profile national and international architects.
 
The Bridgend Rainforest project will focus on plant species from the Indonesian Malay Archipelago, which include the Malaysian and Indonesian part of Borneo. The attraction will provide the exhilaration of a rainforest experience, whilst learning at first hand about its importance to world’s climate and eco systems. A fundamental aspect of the project is to employ a genuinely environmental approach to development, through all aspects of design, materials, and use of renewable energy sources, and provide a very public showcase to the successful use of sustainable design and technology principles. The botanic content for the visitor attraction is being sourced through a specialist Dutch firm, Van den Arend, with innovative energy systems being supplied by Westland Energy and their technology business unit - VEK, in The Netherlands.  
 
Rainforest protection organization Rainforest Concern, will also be working with the project as part of an intellectual advisory team providing information on real conservation projects on the ground. 

Peter Bennett, Director of Rainforest Concern, said: “The world’s tropical rainforests are the richest and most diverse habitats on Earth, they are also some of the most endangered and continue to disappear at an alarming rate across the globe. Projects like the Bridgend Rainforest, which will bring these remarkable forests alive for people in the UK, have an important role to play in highlighting the threats faced by the world’s rainforests and hopefully inspiring people to support efforts to protect them.”

Several UK firms in addition to Limbrick, are involved in the Rainforest visitor attraction. These include; Vector-Foiltec, a London based specialist firm responsible for the lightweight translucent structural materials required for dense botanic growth and related energy efficiencies; and Land Use Consultants, who carried out the masterplanning and landscape design for The Eden Project. Land Use will be responsible for exterior and interior planting and landscape design in conjunction with Robin Lock, RVL's Co-Founder who orchestrated the work on the tropical biome at Eden Project, Cornwall.   
 
Rainforest Ventures expect to contract visitor services, marketing and promotion, with a business unit of the Blackpool Pleasure Beach Company, who are also in discussion with RVL on similar proposals for a Congo Rainforest development in a Belgian urban location. Rainforest Ventures are also actively considering a further site in the North West of England.
 
New employment opportunities in Bridgend and local communities will be created year round, in the fields of both leisure services and botanic and energy technologies. These extend to the inclusion of learning disabled young adults involved in plant propagation both onsite and offsite. Rainforest Ventures expect to work closely with the Horticultural College at Pen Coed and local social services.
 
The Borneo Rainforest project at Bridgend is the launch development of Rainforest Ventures. It will operate year-round and form the anchor visitor attraction in a cluster of leisure projects being planned by the developer – Dragon Studios. In addition to tourism, the project will provide an important centre in South Wales for exhibitions, forums, and corporate events involving climate change and environmental issues. The company is in discussion with national hotel operators to manage the adjoining hotel and conference venue which will enjoy unique vistas into the rainforest canopy.  
 
John Woodman, Director and Co-Founder, Rainforest Ventures Ltd. commented ‘Our company aims to assure sustained public attention to the threat of rainforest deforestation via logging, shifting cultivation, agricultural land development, etc. and the role and value these vital regions play in maintaining global climate balance. We welcome the invitation of Dragon Studios and its Chairman, Lord Attenborough, to establish the footprint of an endangered rainforest habitat in this former mining area of South Wales.'

For more information visit the Rainforest Ventures Ltd website