A new attraction at Landmark Forest Adventure Park will let children put parents and grandparents on the ‘naughty step’ when it is launched this Thursday (16th August 2012).
The Shrinking Chair, which makes the person sitting on it appear far smaller than the person standing next to it via an optical trick, will form the start of a new outdoor exhibition at the Carrbridge attraction, which will grow over the next two years to become “WeirdWood, where nothing is ordinary, everything is slightly curious”.
Danny Fullerton, manager at Landmark Forest Adventure, says: “The new Shrinking Chair is a fantastic visual trick that gives kids the chance to have a bit of fun and put Mum, Dad, Granny or Grandpa onto the naughty step. Either that or the children can enjoy looking as big as the giant Hagrid from Harry Potter, whilst the grownups look as small as a Hobbit from Lord of the Rings! WeirdWood, when complete, will be like an outdoor extension of our popular ‘Bamboozeleum’ exhibition with its array of puzzles, illusions and mind boggling effects. WeirdWood will be another unusual attraction for visitors of all ages to explore and enjoy. “
The addition of the Shrinking Chair comes at a time when multi-generational holidays have never been more popular. Recent research has suggested that 44 per cent of adults who already take multi-generation holidays are doing so more often than they did five years ago and nearly a third of grandparents go away with members of their wider family much more often than previously.*
Danny continues: “It’s fantastic to see so many UK families embracing multi-generation holidays as a way to bond. We understand the importance of taking a break from the daily routine and spending quality time with loved ones – be it a day out or a week away. Landmark has traditionally been a place where different generations can spend time together and have fun and a bit of an adventure. We are always looking for attractions such as the Shrinking Chair that can bring the generations together and encourage them to create great memories.”
The Shrinking Chair, also know as the Beuchet Chair, was introduced by Psychologist Jean Beuchet in 1963. The trick is that two separate parts are seen as belonging together. The seat of the chair is actually some distance from the frame, but from the correct angle, they appear as one whole chair. When a person sits on the chair part, the onlooker is lead to believe the person is as close as the frame of the chair. The person, however, appears to have been shrunk as they are really sat further away.
