Gnomes Go Free at Alton Towers

"Undoubtedly, the crazy, thrill-inducing world of a theme park is not for everyone, but with 2.3 million visitors per year, they clearly appeal to a large number. We don't doubt that some theme parks are very formulaic, but Alton Towers is not. A theme park that's set around the gothic ruins of a historical home, that has 18th Century follies scattered amongst the steel thrill machines, calls its new ride "Rita" and let's in visitors bearing gnomes (after all gnomes need a day out too!) is just as quirky and eccentric as some of those attractions so lauded by the authors of this book - it's just bigger, that's all!" says Mike Lorimer, from Alton Towers.

The Park will take no responsibility whatsoever for the health, safety or welfare of any gnome whilst on its property. It is up to owners to ensure that gnomes in their care do not run away to join the pixies in the Gardens.

They're reasonably serious (it's an ad campaign brought about by a soon-to-be released guide book that puts down Alton Towers while playing up quirky, kitchy attractions), and the article carefully defines what an acceptable gnome is. They do limit the number of Gnome-based tickets that will be issued each day, so if everybody shows up with a gnome they don't get burned with half the patrons getting in free :)

Neat stuff

Wiccan pays her respects to wolves.