At Santa Ana we have embarked upon a new project called #BondGoesWild; the aim is to get youngsters out and about exploring these beautiful La Gomeran grounds. With its rare combination of rocky, volcanic landscapes and dense, green rainforest, the island is a fantastic place for both children and adults to discover nature.
We’ve been busy coming up with all sorts of activities that we hope will encourage guests to Go Wild outdoors – everything from finding a minibeast, to making smelly cocktails out of leaves and petals, to hugging a tree. We’ll be supplying all the resources you need to make the most of the natural world around you; bug pots, crayons, butterfly nets, magnifying glasses and a '12 Wild things to do' booklet for inspiration. We're excited to get youngsters outside and learning new things and the project will be kicking off from Easter 2017.
Bond Goes Wild was originally introduced to eight of our UK sites last year, and it has proven to be such a great success with both adults and children that the next logical step was to take the initiative overseas!
El Balcón de Santa Ana was chosen as the ideal site for a #BondGoesWild trial run. The Canary Islands' subtropical microclimate means a profusion of flowers, interesting creepy-crawlies and pretty buzzy things all year round; and those same balmy conditions attract families with young children, keen to escape the UK’s colder weather.
One family staying on site at the time were keen to be our guinea pigs for the trial and all three generations got involved. Original Bondholders Noel and Lyn Roberts (pictured) couldn’t have been more delighted. “We’re so proud that the next generation, and our grandchildren, are in the vanguard of Bond Goes Wild,” said Noel. “We believe children should get out more – like we used to; and Bond Goes Wild is the perfect opportunity, and the perfect incentive.”
Lyn and Noel’s daughter Pip, and son-in-law David, both doctors and also Bondholders, heartily agreed. “The kids have had so much fun!” enthused Pip. “It’s a brilliant idea. Hopefully we’ll be holidaying at one of the UK Bond-Goes-Wild sites over the summer holidays; it’ll be great to get really involved, and for the children to join in the activities with other youngsters.”
So, on to the toughest test: what did the kids think? 10-year-old Charlotte wasn’t sure what her favourite thing was. “I loved the tree-hugging,” she said. “But I also liked running the water off a plant – that was really interesting. Am I allowed two favourites?” Her brother William, 8, was in no doubt, however. “The smelly cocktails! I’m going to be doing that with my friends when I get home.” At which point Mum and Dad gave each other a worried look… But it's fair to say that both children gave Bond Goes Wild an unqualified thumbs-up!
And with such an enjoyable trial run, #BondGoesWild will now be introduced to six abroad properties! So now you can get involved in any one of the following locations: the Dordogne, the islands of La Gomera, Madeira, Majorca and down in southern Spain. The UK destinations taking part are: Anglesey, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Kent, the Lake District, Pembrokeshire and the Trossachs National Park! So there is a fantastic variety of climates to discover.
Grown-ups, please get involved. Accompany your children on their adventures or go out and photograph whatever it is they’ve found. And when you’ve done so, upload the results to our Facebook pages, using the hashtag #bondgoeswild. Plus anything else you think might help to drive Bond Goes Wild forward across more sites, benefitting more children in the years to come.
