Gorilla’s Rat Race ‘warm-up’ sets imaginations alight

After the wear and tear of one school term, Copthill School’s latest architectural addition is standing up well, and the verdict from Mr Teesdale, the headmaster, is in: “It has totally captured the children’s imagination”, he said.

The story behind this construction began when Gorilla Marketing & Events Ltd., the specialist events marketing and brand management firm, was ready to start work building the obstacles for the Rat Race Dirty Weekend at Burghley House. In the run up to the event, Gorilla had the opportunity to ‘warm-up’ its construction crew with a  project at the nearby Copthill School.

The Burghley estate, which hosts the Rat Race Dirty Weekend, had a surplus of larch which it wanted to donate to the school providing it could be made use of, and Gorilla Marketing & Events was asked to devise a project that would suit a school of 300 pupils, all under 11, with its own highly regarded Forest School and emphasis on outdoor learning.

Gorilla’s team of technicians and engineers devised several ways of using this considerable amount wood, before settling on plans for a large frontier-style wooden fort, with two raised towers, two raised battlements and a canopied area at the back. Measuring 11m x 11m and standing over 2m tall, Gorilla used more than 150 rough hewn larch trunks to build the imposing palisade. The fort now stands atop a hillock in the school’s grounds, and has proven to be a huge hit with the pupils.

Already the Fort has been put to good use, and it has quickly become invaluable to the school. It  served as a major obstacle in ‘The Stampede’, Copthill School’s own 5km Rat Race for children, staff and parents; it has been the venue for a staff archery competition and the school’s V.E. Day anniversary event venue, where the beacon was lit in front of the whole school.

Jonathan Teesdale, Copthill’s headmaster was delighted with facility, saying, “Gorilla have designed and made a fabulous play facility for the children. It is completely unique and appropriate to Copthill School, and has been a great addition to our outdoor area. It has totally captured the children’s imagination. They love using it!”