Review: Treetop Nets Manchester in Heaton Park

Every imagined swinging through the trees in Heaton Park? Us neither. Not until this weekend, at least, when we booked a two-hour session on Treetop Nets’ Manchester complex just beside the top car park at Heaton Park. The nets are made for bouncing – they’re ridged with springs, as well as being literally tied to the trees in the forest – and there’s loads to do as well as leaping about. Whizz down rope slides and climb up ladders into tree house hideaways, play dodge ball with giant exercise balls and chase each other around the bouncy, human race track as fast as you can. Our instructor explains that 10 minutes bouncing burns as many calories as a 5k run – so that’s a bonus – and it’s great for keeping kids entertained. We took 4 year old twins, one adult and a 13 year old and had to bribe everyone to leave after 120 minutes with the promise of lunch in the nearby Heaton Park Cafe (Treetop adventurers get a 10% discount). Treetop Nets Manchester is part of a group of adventure parks that launched in the Lake District in Windermere. There are three outlets, including one in Ripon. Other facilities in the 600 acre historic park include a petting zoo, 18 hole golf course, adventure playgrounds and boating lakes; it’s the ideal place for a big day out close to home. Treetop Nets is suitable for visitors aged 3 and over, while an adjacent high ropes adventure experience, called Treetop Trek Manchester, is available for those aged 5 and over.

Treetop Trek and Treetop Nets Manchester, Heaton Park, St Margaret’s Road, Manchester, M25 2GT. Tel: 015394 47186, opening times vary, cost 3-4 years £13, 5 and over £20, supervising adults with under 7s £13, www.treetopnets.co.uk