There's no better place to enjoy the great outdoors this May half-term than amongst the trees at Center Parcs.  With four villages to choose from, each set in 400 acres of beautiful forest, there's something to get every member of the family outdoors and into the spirit of Spring.

From nature encounters to adrenaline adventures, there are over 200 activities to choose from, catering to all ages and tastes. Here's some inspiration to get the whole family enjoying the fresh forest air, warm weather and longer days this half term...

Activities for nature lovers

Get closer to nature this Spring with a range of fun activities designed to educate the whole family about the plants, birds and animals living in the forest and engage with the woodland surroundings:

Rangers Ramble

Find out what squirrels eat for lunch and which rare plants are found in the forest on a Rangers Ramble. Families can join a Conservation Ranger for an easy stroll around the village nature trails and discover the forest's many hidden secrets

Encounter with Owls

Families can get up close and personal with these beautiful, impressive birds during a magical encounter showcasing some of the world's most spectacular breeds

Activities for thrill-seekers

Experience the ultimate adrenaline rush or try something completely new with a challenging set of activities designed for adventure seeking families with nerves of steel:

Family Laser Combat

A family paintball adventure without the paint! Armed with state-of-the-art laser guns, sneak through the forest, manoeuvring around barricades to beat rival teams and solve the Ranger Mission

High Ropes

Perfect for adrenaline junkies with a head for heights, this is an outdoor experience with a difference. Traverse high wires with the help of skilled instructors and work in teams to conquer this thrill-a-minute elevated course

Segway Experience

Enjoy Center Parcs in a whole new way, touring the spectacular forest on a Segway whilst mastering balance and technique from trained instructors. Stepping into the future has never been so easy, or so much fun

Activities for rainy days

Spring has most definitely sprung, but with the notoriously unpredictable British weather there's still an abundance of indoor activities to keep the family entertained:

Subtropical Swimming Paradise

Heated to a blissful 29.5°C, the indoor subtropical paradise swimming pool offers the perfect haven to relax and unwind and for adrenaline seekers there are outdoor rapids, flumes and a wave machine. Guests at Elveden Forest, meanwhile, can take advantage of the new Tropical Cyclone water ride reaching speeds of up to 30mph

Pottery Painting

For artistic types the pottery studio is a great place to exercise creative flair. Choose from a huge range of pottery and paint your own design, then collect the finished item the following day - a great keepsake from your time in the forest

Indoor Climbing Wall

Carefully designed for beginners as well as more experienced climbers, trained instructors will be on hand to teach all the necessary rope skills to help climbers scale the 6 metre wall and make a controlled descent back down to earth

Recently awarded gold by Prima Baby and Pregnancy magazine for 'Best family friendly holiday' and announced 'Best UK Family Holiday Provider' in the Tommy's Baby Friendly awards for the tenth year in a row, why not book your next short break at Center Parcs and make the most of half term together? May bank holiday weekend breaks start from £499 (based on 3 nights in a 2 bed Comfort Lodge at Whinfell). For more information or to book your break call 08448 267 723 or visit www.centerparcs.co.uk.

For more information on May bank holiday weekend breaks at Center Parcs, please contact the Center
Parcs press office team: 0207 025 6665 / centerparcspressoffice@redconsultancy.com

-Ends-

Notes to Editors:

1. The four locations across the UK are Sherwood Forest (Nottinghamshire), Elveden Forest (Suffolk), Longleat Forest (Wiltshire) and Whinfell Forest, (Cumbria)
2. Center Parcs has been awarded the following accolades since 2008: the Green Business Award for Biodiversity Protection, Visit Britain 5 Star Rating, Hospitality Assured, Tommy Award for Best UK Holiday Provider, Biodiversity Benchmark - Land Management, Carbon Trust Standard, Good Spa Guide Award, ISO14001, Investors in People
3. Since 2011 Center Parcs experienced an average annual occupancy of 97%
4. Center Parcs offers short breaks all year round and welcomes over 1.6 million guests each year, 96% of guests expressing an intention to return

Center Parcs and The Environment

Committed to enhancing the forest and wider environment, Center Parcs aims to be one of the leading sustainable 'Large Scale Tourist Destinations' in the UK.  The Center Parcs Sustainability Strategy, launched in 2011, promises to reduce Center Parcs carbon emissions by 20% and produce 10% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. 

Over the last 12 months, Center Parcs has reduced its carbon emissions by 7.4%.  This achievement was down to a variety of different energy saving choices including:

New and refreshed accommodation projects have included environmentally efficient technology such as: Ground source heatingSolar panels Energy-saving LED lightingWater-efficient showersLow-energy kitchen appliancesIntelligent thermostats

Electric vehicle fleet for housekeeping and technical services

At the new Woburn Forest development Center Parcs is investing in energy efficiency and renewable technologies - such as Biomass District Heating - to achieve the aim of consuming 25% less than the average existing Center Parcs village.